Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Firewire Networking with Mac OS 10.4.10 and Windows XP SP2

Oct 7, 2007 5:16AM PDT

Hello

I would like to access the files of my PC via firewire on my Mac.

So far i can only find guides on how to share a Mac hard disk with a windows machine. Does anyone know how to do access files the other way round?

Thanks in Advance!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Microsoft never embraced firewire.
Oct 7, 2007 5:48AM PDT

I'd use ethernet to get this job done.

Bob

- Collapse -
Ethernet
Oct 7, 2007 7:42AM PDT

as suggested is probably the way to go here.

But, if you can share a Mac drive with a Windows machine via firewire, which you say you can do, why do you need to do it the other way around?

Surely there does not have to be "the other way around"?

If a Windows box is connected to the Mac disk, then isn't the Mac disk, by virtue of the Firewire connection, already connected to the Windows box?

Instead of pulling the data from the Mac disk, push the data to the Mac disk.

When you have an ethernet connection, the better option, between the two machines, there is no need to log onto each machine to exchange data. Push to one, pull from the other.

P

- Collapse -
Ethernet is too slow...
Oct 7, 2007 9:41AM PDT
- Collapse -
Maybe now would be a good time
Oct 7, 2007 9:44AM PDT

to let us know what it is that you want to do and why you consider 100BT networking too slow.

If you are trying to share the iTunes music library, just turn on sharing. 100BT is plenty fast enough to play music tracks across a local network

P

- Collapse -
....
Oct 7, 2007 10:05AM PDT

Your right music does play fine, however video doesn't always play well. I just want to be able to transfer large files quickly really and firewire seems to be faster than ethernet. It would also come in handy if someone brings their laptop round....

If there is no way don't worry. Ill have to live with using Ethernet Happy

- Collapse -
For not much... 1000BT ethernet.
Oct 7, 2007 10:21AM PDT

I've seen prices really drop over the last year.

- Collapse -
Ah, Video
Oct 7, 2007 11:06AM PDT

As already mentioned, Gig ethernet is coming down in price.

Another point, not many machines in the Windows world actually have a firewire connection as standard.

Let us know how it all pans out for you

P

- Collapse -
Another solution
Oct 7, 2007 9:45PM PDT

Which may be better for you in the long term.

Replace the small HD in your Mac for a much larger one.

P

- Collapse -
Afterthought. Firewire burnouts.
Oct 8, 2007 12:44AM PDT

Unlike ethernet where it's an electrically isolated connection firewire ports could be damaged if your electrical system isn't done proper.

For me this could explain a rash of burnt firewire and USB ports.

Bob