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Alpha-sphere · Oct 15, 2002, 09:48 AM

hi there,

I recently bought myself a 500mhz Ibook and i'm very exited. I am a PC user for 4,5 years now and before that i had a mac running OS7 so i got a lot of catching up to do.

Q: I have a second Harddrive on my PC wich I want to use as a Mac storage hard drive or somthing like that. I'm using the program pcmaclan (do not know how that works). Do i have to format the Harddrive as a MAC partition (if possible) or do i partition the harddrive as a usual fat32/NTFS partition?

ghporter · Oct 15, 2002, 09:55 AM

What I know: your PC's hard drive needs to stay in a PC-type format for it to work at all.

What I don't know: your network setup, how you've configured both the PC and the iBook, and what OS your PC is running.

Believe it or not, all that information is needed before anyone can give you any more help. Except for this: browse this forum (the search function is reputed to "suck") looking for topics that involve networking Macs with PCs. You'll no doubt find useful information very quickly.

Good luck.

Alpha-sphere · Oct 15, 2002, 10:17 AM

This is my network situation.

3x PC (The PC with the extra harddrive for mac stuff is running on winxp)
1x pc laptop
1x Ibook
And this is all hooked up to a Router/switch from SMC barricade and a 10mbit Hub.

I haven't done anything to my pc to prepare for the network link between the mac and pc. Same on the Ibook. Haven't done anything yet.

I'm gonna format the Harddrive now.

mac-at-kearsarge · Oct 15, 2002, 10:45 AM

Errrr. Reformmatting the HD was probably complettly not nessacary (Since you can really only format a Mac drive in one format, especially if you want to run OS X, but I'll get to that in a sec). What you need to tell me for me to help you is the following:

1. What Operating System are you running on the PC? (Win95, Win98, Win98SE, Win 2k, Win Me, Win XP?.

2. Do you have/are you planning on having Max OS 10.2 (Jaguar). May I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend you consider getting it. It has built in software to use with ANY network platform (including windows) eliminating the need for 2rd party software such as PC/Mac LAN. or what I use on my MAc OS9.2 side "dave" from Thurby software.

You really don't need to do anything fancy on the PC. Simply go into the Network control panel (Depending on which Win OS you're using detirmines how you'll specify your workgroup so I'll explain that once you reply telling me which OS you use. then turn on file sharing and specify the the HD as being shared.

On the mac: Once you have the OS reinstalled after formatting (You did say it was the mac HD you wee reformating?) make sure you can connect to the internet ok through you're router/switch. I'm assuming you're router/switch assigns IPs dynamically (automatcly) then the mac settings shouldn't need to be touched.. Provided that you can surf from the Mac ok install PC/Mac LAN and follow their instructions for the mac. and you should be all set.

Alpha-sphere · Oct 15, 2002, 11:20 AM

Originally posted by mac-at-kearsarge:
Errrr. Reformmatting the HD was probably complettly not nessacary (Since you can really only format a Mac drive in one format, especially if you want to run OS X, but I'll get to that in a sec). What you need to tell me for me to help you is the following:

1. What Operating System are you running on the PC? (Win95, Win98, Win98SE, Win 2k, Win Me, Win XP?.

2. Do you have/are you planning on having Max OS 10.2 (Jaguar). May I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend you consider getting it. It has built in software to use with ANY network platform (including windows) eliminating the need for 2rd party software such as PC/Mac LAN. or what I use on my MAc OS9.2 side "dave" from Thurby software.

You really don't need to do anything fancy on the PC. Simply go into the Network control panel (Depending on which Win OS you're using detirmines how you'll specify your workgroup so I'll explain that once you reply telling me which OS you use. then turn on file sharing and specify the the HD as being shared.

On the mac: Once you have the OS reinstalled after formatting (You did say it was the mac HD you wee reformating?) make sure you can connect to the internet ok through you're router/switch. I'm assuming you're router/switch assigns IPs dynamically (automatcly) then the mac settings shouldn't need to be touched.. Provided that you can surf from the Mac ok install PC/Mac LAN and follow their instructions for the mac. and you should be all set.

The PC with the harddrive that i want to share with my mac has WINXP on it.

I am planning to install both 9.2 (3 gig partition) and OSX 10.2 jaguar (7 gig partition) wich i just got this afternoon

At this very moment i have OS9.2 runnning on my Ibook I need to get pcmaclan working because i have a lot of important files on my Ibook that i need to put on the PC harddrive for backup.

And i was not formatting my Ibook. I was formatting the harddrive on my PC for sharing purpose only.

mac-at-kearsarge · Oct 15, 2002, 12:59 PM

Oh this is going to be easy then. With Jaguar installed YOU DON'T NEED PC/Mac LAN! Yes you can returen it if you bought it from a store. You can use Jaguar to transwer ANY AND ALL files you need, to the PC, even those from the 9.2 partition.

If the issue is that the iBook HD isn't partitioned into the two partitions for Mac OS 9.2 and OX X.2 and you're trying to back up the files on the iBook before doing so, it is safe to just go ahead and install jaguar, on the existing partition, use it to back up the files from the iBook to the PC, then reformat and partion the HD (Grant that this means reinstalling Jaguar and 9.2 again, it doesn't take too much time, and is simple and straight forward.) I have a 600 Mhz iBook and I run both OS's on one partition (I've read many article suggesting two seperate partitions for eash OS, but I've found it honestly doesn't really make any differance in any area.).

HOWEVER the other issue might be that if the iBook only has a 9.x OS on it the drive, the drive might only be partioned in the old format (Whose name eludes me at the momement. but I know that to install OS 10.x you need to have the drive formatted in the "+" format.). Go ahead and try installing jaguar as is. Unless for some reason if won't let you (ie the HD doesn't have the "+" formatting) just use Jaguar to transfer the files. If all else fails install PC/Mac LAN (But trust me, only do this as a last resort!).

Once you have Jaguar installed all you do is go to the connect menu (If it works as advertised, you'll see the PC you want to backup onto) and click connect. It's that simple.

I'm encouraging you go this route, and avoid using PC/Mac LAN simply because most of those products, although do work, can be a pain in the A$$ to get to work. (Although I've been using Dave long enough that I know what it wants :-) )and only use it because I can't afford 10.2 yet (But I should be able to in the next month or so, I can't wait!)

Alpha-sphere · Oct 15, 2002, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by mac-at-kearsarge:
Oh this is going to be easy then. With Jaguar installed YOU DON'T NEED PC/Mac LAN! Yes you can returen it if you bought it from a store. You can use Jaguar to transwer ANY AND ALL files you need, to the PC, even those from the 9.2 partition.

If the issue is that the iBook HD isn't partitioned into the two partitions for Mac OS 9.2 and OX X.2 and you're trying to back up the files on the iBook before doing so, it is safe to just go ahead and install jaguar, on the existing partition, use it to back up the files from the iBook to the PC, then reformat and partion the HD (Grant that this means reinstalling Jaguar and 9.2 again, it doesn't take too much time, and is simple and straight forward.) I have a 600 Mhz iBook and I run both OS's on one partition (I've read many article suggesting two seperate partitions for eash OS, but I've found it honestly doesn't really make any differance in any area.).

HOWEVER the other issue might be that if the iBook only has a 9.x OS on it the drive, the drive might only be partioned in the old format (Whose name eludes me at the momement. but I know that to install OS 10.x you need to have the drive formatted in the "+" format.). Go ahead and try installing jaguar as is. Unless for some reason if won't let you (ie the HD doesn't have the "+" formatting) just use Jaguar to transfer the files. If all else fails install PC/Mac LAN (But trust me, only do this as a last resort!).

Once you have Jaguar installed all you do is go to the connect menu (If it works as advertised, you'll see the PC you want to backup onto) and click connect. It's that simple.

I'm encouraging you go this route, and avoid using PC/Mac LAN simply because most of those products, although do work, can be a pain in the A$$ to get to work. (Although I've been using Dave long enough that I know what it wants :-) )and only use it because I can't afford 10.2 yet (But I should be able to in the next month or so, I can't wait!)

I got it to work pretty simple. I just installed pcmaclan chose a map/drive to share and it was done. At the Ibook i just entered the IP of my PC and i instantly logged onto my PC.
I'm transfering 6 gig of stuff right now.... still 21 minutes to go.

mac-at-kearsarge · Oct 15, 2002, 01:46 PM

Oh OK, well then you should be all set from here on out. I find it's hard to give people help on the forums since you never know what level of computer experience they have. You obviously have quite a bit :-) )

Well this is my favorite opart where I get to say:

WELCOME BACK TO THE MAC FAMILY!

Alpha-sphere · Oct 15, 2002, 03:21 PM

Originally posted by mac-at-kearsarge:
Oh OK, well then you should be all set from here on out. I find it's hard to give people help on the forums since you never know what level of computer experience they have. You obviously have quite a bit :-) )

Well this is my favorite opart where I get to say:

WELCOME BACK TO THE MAC FAMILY!

I'm a very very very very experienced PC Windows user (and i'm a qualified network administrator on paper

Just graduated) so the problems that macs have are like nothing compared with the windows problems LOL.

mac-at-kearsarge · Oct 15, 2002, 03:39 PM

I too (on paper) am a net admin. Although I'm still in training. I'm in my sophmore year @ NH technical Inst. (USA) and am waiting to take my CISCO CCNA exam (Due to the worst proffesor I've ever encountered, I just barely passed the course last year. However I had friend help me out and he taught me everything I needed to know for the course, in 5 mins! Basically, it was learning subnetting, and the prof. babbled(litarlly) trying to explain it for a whole semester!), and I was supposed to me taking the second year course this semester, but due to a scheduling conflict I have to wait for the spring semester. I run a small LAN at my house and here at school. I have two PCs (Sony 1.2 Celeron and a home built 486/100. For Macs I have Late '01 iBook Combo, PM 7200/90, Centris 650, IIvx, and the guts to a SE/30 and the original mac (I think it was the 512k?)

I apoligize for going the elementary route with you but I find myself helping so mnay people in the forums who, for lack of a better description, are cluless.

Now that you're back with Macs, you'll defiantly notice quite few differances since OS 7.

Alpha-sphere · Oct 15, 2002, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by mac-at-kearsarge:
Hey! Careful, you're still fresh back in the family! :-) I too (on paper) am a net admin. Although I'm still in training. I'm in my sophmore year @ NH technical Inst. (USA) and am waiting to take my CISCO CCNA exam (Due to the worst proffesor I've ever encountered, I just barely passed the course last year. However I had friend help me out and he taught me everything I needed to know for the coursein 5 mins! Basically, it was learning subnetting, and the prof. babbled(litarlly) trying to explain it for a whole semester!), and I was supposed to me taking the second year course this semester, but due to a scheduling conflict I have to wait for the spring semester. I run a small LAN at my house and here at school. I have two PCs (Sony 1.2 Celeron and a home biult 486/100. For Macs I have Late '01 iBook Combo, PM 7200/90, Centris 650, IIvx, and the guts to a SE/30 and the original mac (I think it was the 512k?)

I'm the wireless dorm admin at my school.

I apoligize for going the elementary route with you but I find myself helping so mnay people in the forums who, for lack of a better description, are cluless. On the otherhand, I should have figured your level after stating you had multiple systems, with a router/switch and hub. :-)

Now that you're back with Macs, you'll defiantly notice quite few differances since OS 7. And in defiance to your statement ( ). Networking macs isn't hard. If you're like us and know what IP address, subnett, DNS, and DHCP mean.

Hey i did the Cisco semesters to LOL
Passed the 4 semesters and i can try to get myself a CCNA certificate but thats ony good for 1 year I heard. And after that one Year you have to take the exam again... I'll try to get my CCNA after i finish my current School(We've got a wierd school system here in the netherlands).

I'm installing Jaguar right now