Usable with USB 2 and USB 3 without reformat? Could I, for example, write contents onto the drive using USB 3.0 and give it to someone with a USB 2.0 and would he be able to read/write then could we pass it back and forth using such procedures? Second question - using NTFS under WIN7 Ultimate both sides in example above?Thanks! Usable with USB 2 and USB 3 without reformat? Could I, for example, write contents onto the drive using USB 3.0 and give it to someone with a USB 2.0 and would he be able to read/write then could... » Read More Usable with USB 2 and USB 3 without reformat? Could I, for example, write contents onto the drive using USB 3.0 and give it to someone with a USB 2.0 and would he be able to read/write then could we pass it back and forth using such procedures? Second question - using NTFS under WIN7 Ultimate both sides in example above?Thanks! « Show Less
301144
Yes, it comes with a (short) cable. Well, the computer end of the cable is the same for USB 2.0 and 3.0
301145
Does this come with a USB 3.0 cable or do we have to purchase that separately?
301146
Should work. As I do the same thing within my own house with flash drives. My desktop is win7 / USB 2.0, my Laptop is win7 / USB 3.0. I've never needed to re-format my flash drives and I do get the speed increase from the USB 3.0 Laptop. I can imagine, with the proper operating systems involved: Portable HDDs should't be any different.
121412
you certainly can use both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0; the only difference is transfer speed.
1782772
Yes, but it needs FAT32 file format and won't read NTFS* (which is default on most drives). This link shows how to quickly reformat your drive while also making sure you back up your data. http://www.wikihow.com/Format-FAT32
36841
My similar drive (5TB) is also equipped for USB 3, but it works great on my 2.0 ports. I assume it could transfer faster on 3.0, but there's no incompatibility.
1567201
Yes, I am using these Flash Drives on Windows 7. I also have used them on Win XP and I see no reason why they wouldn't work with ANY Windows operating system. No special drivers are needed. They work just like another folder in Windows. I have the 32 GB, but I prefer using the 16 GB because they work faster - as it takes only slightly longer for my laptop to read the 32 GB. I keep several 16 GB handy.
735342
No reformatting necessary as the hard drive ships in FAT32 format, which is instantly compatible with a Mac. If there is /any/ chance that you will be hooking into a Mac and a PC at some point, I'd highly recommend leaving the formatting as is (of course you can wipe the drive and then reformat it in MSDOS format through Disk Utility). You cannot easily write to a Windows (i.e., NTFS) drive but you can read it on a Mac. Have no idea as to whether a Windows machine can read/write something that is Mac formatted, however.
668780
Yes, of course. You have to format it in ExFAT, it supported by Win7 and Mac without problem.Also you can format any flash drive in ExFAT, it allows files more than 4Gb
659195
Mine did not need any reformat. I put 2 drives on it snd they worked without any reformating.
514987
You should be able to use it on both Windows and Mac to read and write. You just have to reformat the drive for FAT32 rather than NTFS. I did this with my WD my passport ultra, works fine unless Toshiba has documentation that states you cannot format FAT32, but I doubt it.
289965
You sure can, there is no need to format the drives before installing. I bought this to take my two drives from an old desktop that had died, each that had plenty of data, and had it up and running with my new laptop in no time at all with full access to all of the old data. I've now used this with both Windows XP and Windows 8 without any issues, and have since swapped in a new drive from another old desktop.
1430470
I'm making an assumption that you are using Window XP. Vista, Win7, or Win8. If that is the case the USB should be formatted for NTFS. not FAT32.
1524565
Generally, you can only use a 2 TB or smaller USB drive that hasn't been reformatted. Here are the limits as I know them: 1) Only FAT (File Allocation Table), FAT32, and an old version of NTFS are supported. 2) Intel GUID Partition Table (GPT) and Linux ext3 formats are not supported. So it must be a WinXP-or-below PC-formatted drive, not Mac or Linux, and not a modern NTFS, which uses dynamic or GPT partitioning. 3) Because GPT volumes are not supported, 2TB is the max volume/partition size. 4) Maximum file sizes are as follows: FAT: 2 GB. FAT32: 4 GB. WinXP NTFS: Volume Size. So, you will have trouble storing some HD movie or TV shows if you are using a FAT-formatted volume. To create the old-style NTFS format, you will need a Win XP or 2000 computer. 5) You are limited to using the first 8 volumes/partitions on the drive. 6) The drive cannot be encrypted. 7) If the drive is powered off the USB port on the router, then it cannot draw more than 500mA.
1827012
I suppose it would depend upon what you're attempting to transfer. In normal use, 2.0 doesn't differ greatly from 3.0. It does make a difference if you are transferring files of significant size (6, 10, 20gb). That said, I have been extremely happy with this drive's performance overall and I go back and forth between 2.0 and 3.0 ports all the time without any true impediment. I'm not sure that I've answered your question since I don't run any programs off my drive, but the transfer rate seems robust whether using 2.0 or 3.0.
2038541
yes, i have windows 7 w/o usb 3.0, the drive works fine it just doesn't have 3.0 speed
2059
I use three 2T Verbatim USB drives. I am *very* happy with each of them. They work as advertised and I've never had a problem. I use them in a Windows environment and always reformat them to use NTFS file formatting--as that is much quicker. Typically, I leave them off, and only power them on to copy a backup to or to restore files from. Two of the drives I use are model # USB2T. I think they are USB2. The other is model # SNS2TB which I think is USB3. I prefer it because the on/off switch toggles in a different direction rather than being a button that one might think they pushed on or off when they didn't push hard enough. It's not a big deal either way, but it may be indicative of their making small improvements over time. Best of luck to you.
1548110
Yes you can. It would need to be reformatted in order to work with both systems. It's default format is NTFS (Windows friendly, not Mac OS). Using a Windows PC and possibly the Mac you can reformat it to exFAT which will allow read/write on both platforms.
1653136
Hi, Just bought the drive to read old disks. Opened it out "mint condition, in box, sealed" plugged it into my USB 3.0 hub on my Windows 8.1 Machine. Plugged in a barely used zip cartridge from 10 years ago. Bam there it was.Plug and Play no problem. 15 year old "new device" with USB 1.0 port, works flawlessly on Windows 8.1 Pro via USB 3.0 Hub. I've had more issues with some USB 3.0 hard drives than this.Actually really surprised.
2054818
It can be formatted with FAT32. When you receive the drive it's pre formatted with either NTFS or exFAT (Don't remember but it's one of the two). That being said the Windows format tool will not format any drive larger 32GB with FAT32. It will only allow you to use NTFS or exFAT. Third party tools can be used to format drives larger than 32GB with FAT32. Google "FAT32 Format by Ridgecrop Consultants Ltd." This tool works, is free and is very simply. Or you can use Windows diskpart to manually create the partition and format FAT32. I have this drive and have it formatted with FAT32 for use in my car to play MP3's. Also, please note that the behavior above is not specific to any particular manufacturer. It applies to any USB/HDD/SSD drive larger than 32GB being formatted in Windows.