If you read the Computer Help forum the stories about the last copy of your stuff on some external drive repeats too often. But hey? It's your files at risk.
1. Yes. But it's usually not required. Just format it FAT32 or MS-DOS and you're done.
2. Yes. There may be caveats but up to the point of your second question, Yes.
3. Yes. And again there may be caveats but same answer as your second question.
4. No. Since you don't have a backup copy I will never give any advice that will put a member's files at risk.
5. That's a very nice backup system. I'd get a new blank drive and let it use that. Also, be sure to create a backup copy of what you can't lose.
Bob
Moving from a Dell with external drive back up to a MacPro system. The external drive has 15 years of Quicken, photos, Turbo Tax, so unable to erase any content. The question is can the same WD external drive be partitioned to back up the Mac? AND support both the PC and MacPro? If yes, please provide step by step instructions? If not is the Time Capsul my best option for the Mac back up?

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