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

transfering files from MAC to PC

Nov 18, 2005 3:57AM PST

Hi,
I have the task of moving files from a MAC (OS X) to a PC (XP SP2).

I wondered if anyone has any experienced advice on whether this is possible and how to go about it and any tools that would make the job easier.

All advice ver much appreciated.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Network the two
Nov 18, 2005 4:12AM PST

No special tools.
Join the Mac and the PC together with:
1. Ethernet cable and a switch/Hub
OR
2. Cross-over Ethernet cable.
If you already use a router/switch you are ready for #1. If not, #2 is the option making sure that you purchase a Cross-over cable. A regular cable will not work.
Create a folder on the PC. Share it with everyone.
From the Mac, connect to the PC and log on as if you were the user of the PC. ie. Use the username and password of the account you would normally use on the PC.
Once the folder is mounted on the desktop of the Mac, drag the files to it.
Done

Hope this helps

P

- Collapse -
that simple ?
Nov 18, 2005 9:35PM PST

Hi P,
Thanks for your reply.

I'm not too savvy about macs and I'm sure it will be fine. I've networked macs to a pc network before and sorted sharing printers etc and that was all pretty simple, but I'm not sure about moving files and compatibility, which is why I'm trying to find out beforehand.

I read somewhere that mac files need some binary encoding to move to pc ? but maybe this was before OS X ?

My other issue is exporting/importing address book from AOL (on the MAC) to the PC (exchange email account). I'm not even sure if AOL email is web based or a local client app nowadays ? I just hope the exporting format is generic and I can move it into outlook.

Appreciate your input and any other thoughts on the task.

Cheers.

- Collapse -
Now we are into specifics
Nov 18, 2005 10:38PM PST

BinHex is probably what you are referring to but that does not apply here. It was a form of encoding, prior to compressing, that ensured that all parts of the Mac files got moved across the internet. This still applies but not in this case. By the way, Windows files are also encoded, UUencode, being one method but it's all in the background and also does not apply here.
Data files are the only things you should be moving here. The mac programs will not run on the PC, you knew that.
You may have difficulty with the AOL stuff, you can always call them, as AOL love to do things that are not quite up to standard. That would be an AOL thing and not a PC/Mac thing.
All your Office files, word/xl/powerpoint, will move and open on the PC with no problem. Assuming you have office on the PC.
Just data, no programs and you should be fine.

Help available if you get stuck

P