# Can Macs on a network read files off of NTFS formatted HDs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2002, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-macs-on-a-network-read-files-off-of-ntfs-formatted-hds/104765 "2002-04-21T03:50:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-macs-on-a-network-read-files-off-of-ntfs-formatted-hds/104765/1 "2002-04-21T03:50:44Z")
As you can probably surmise from the topic, I’ll be putting together a mixed platform (Win2K and Mac) network in about a month. Thing is, my Win2K computers’ hard drives are NTFS formatted, which, IIRC, not even Win98 can read. So, will my friend’s Mac be able to read files off of 'em? ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-macs-on-a-network-read-files-off-of-ntfs-formatted-hds/104765/2 "2002-04-21T04:15:06Z")
Windows 9x machines can access NTFS files that are shared over the network, just not on a local drive. For macs you’ll need to install File Services for Macintosh. It’s under Other Network File and Print Services in Add/Remove Programs in 2000 Server. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-macs-on-a-network-read-files-off-of-ntfs-formatted-hds/104765/3 "2002-04-21T04:33:18Z")
[Mac Windows Integration](http://macos.about.com/library/weekly/aa020199.htm) This book might be worth a look [Windows 2000 Mac Support Little Black Book: The Hands-on Reference Guide for Integrating Macintosh Desktops with Windows 2000 Server Environments](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1576103889/103-2024190-9467855) > [@](#): > > _Windows 2000 Mac Support Little Black Book_ is designed to demystify the process of configuring your Macs to function on your Windows NT or Windows 2000 network. > > The support issues for Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 are different. In upgrading its premiere operating system, Microsoft has made a huge number of changes. Fortunately, some of those changes actually simplify the process of networking with Mac OS computers. > > To make it easy for you to find the information you need, this book is divided into two parts. Part I covers how you can configure Apple to relate to Windows NT. Part II examines the Apple as it pertains to Windows 2000. In essence, what you have in your hands are two books in one. > > Depending on whether or not you have deployed Windows 2000 in your company or you’re sticking with Windows NT, you’ll want to read Part I or Part II and the chapters that apply to your particular setup. > > And, if you are planning to migrate from NT to Windows 2000, you’ll be able to compare the two operating systems between Part I and Part I and know what has changed in Microsoft’s latest enterprise operating system and the preparations you’ll need to make. etc etc ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-macs-on-a-network-read-files-off-of-ntfs-formatted-hds/104765/4 "2002-04-21T04:47:43Z")
Originally posted by **Number** > [@](#): > > Windows 9x machines can access NTFS files that are shared over the network, just not on a local drive. For macs you’ll need to install File Services for Macintosh. It’s under Other Network File and Print Services in Add/Remove Programs in 2000 Server. That is correct. To the other machines on the network, it doesn’t matter what format the drive is in, it only matters what network protocol is being used. Macs from ancient days to MacOS 9 speak AppleTalk natively for accessing networked drives, while PCs generally use NetBIOS (SMB), but NT Server (not Workstation) and 2000 (again, the Server version only as far as I know) has the optional Services for Macintosh which puts a (rather low-quality but good for the price) AppleTalk implementation to enable sharing volumes for Macs to access. Alternatives exist: You can use Miramar’s PC MacLan product, which is a more robust implementation of AppleTalk on the PC, and which allows for two-way AppleTalk sharing (i.e., the PC can access volumes shared by Macintoshes using AppleTalk, which Services for Macintosh will not let you do); or you can install either DAVE (from Thursby Systems) or the competing product from Connectix, called DoubleTalk, either of which provide NetBIOS networking to the Mac, in which case the Macs have access to everything the PCs see in their Network Neighborhood, and the PCs don’t have to adjust for the Macs at all. Also, MacOS X has a rudimentary and underdeveloped (but free and native) support for SMB built in, so if the Macs use OS X you don’t need to implement Services for Macintosh for them to be able to connect to your shares. (I use DAVE under OS X nevertheless because it is so much better than the built-in OS X implementation). ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-macs-on-a-network-read-files-off-of-ntfs-formatted-hds/104765/5 "2002-04-21T05:42:43Z")
You may also want to check [http://www.macwindows.com/](http://www.macwindows.com/) for more general-purpose information about making Macs and Wintel PCs play nice. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-macs-on-a-network-read-files-off-of-ntfs-formatted-hds/104765/6 "2002-04-22T06:52:10Z")
Neat. Thanks guys, this may work better than I would have ever expected. Even if I do have to buy some software to get some files off the Mac.