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Question

Transferring files Windows to Mac

Mar 9, 2016 12:51PM PST

I am changing laptops, Dell Inspiron XL to Win 7, to Macbook Air OS X El Capitan. I have uploaded all my files, photos and docs to Clickfree external hard drive. How can I read or download those files to my Mac?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Should just work.
Mar 9, 2016 12:58PM PST

Unless the drive has some encryptiion feature that's how I've copied documents over. Also, did you try Dropbox?

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Should just work.
Mar 9, 2016 1:51PM PST

Thank you R. Proffitt. I didn't try Drop Box. When I try to open something in the HD I get this notice. "Microsoft Windows applications are not supported on OS X." I have over 400 GB on the external Hard drive (Clickfree) I just want to access them with my Mac when I need them, without wifi or internet access. I would like to keep them in one place, like the HD. I thought it should just work. I am going to research "encryption" to check if that's the issue. Any quick tips? Jim

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Well that's true about apps. But DANGER WILL ROBINSON?
Mar 9, 2016 2:07PM PST

You wrote something about keeping your files in one place. The worst place to keep your LAST COPY of files are on portable HDDs. The forums are full of folk trying to recover files. These externals are great for copies. Not for the last copy you have.

OK, I did note that if there was some "app" used to access this drive it would be a problem but documents, pictures and more are simply copied to your drive in some folder of your choosing. I didn't read you were using some app for backup or encryption.

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All of a sudden
Mar 9, 2016 2:55PM PST

I found another icon with the clickfree logo. After a couple of different clicks a new page appeared offering options. My files are displayed in a new format, I like it, and I can open them. I just bought a 1TB WD My Passport Ultra HD. It will be a second backup. I understand your comment re LAST COPY of files. I lost a lot of files that I had stored on CDs that became corrupted somehow on their own. Thanks very much for the advice.