USB

USB history: USB 1.0 to USB-C + speed table

10/12/2021 by

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We offer remember why at all to light a USB interface and how he changed the world of computing.

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What is USB (Universal Serial Bus)?

USB stands for “Universal Serial Bus”, but users 90 first part would cause unless a sad laugh. At that time, to connect to a computer mouse or keyboard needed a PS / 2 interface for other external devices – serial ports, parallel ports, etc. And attempts to create something universal ended with the advent of the next specialized (and very few people want) interface.

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The birth of a hero

Therefore, when a number of companies have joined forces and in 1995 created a USB 1.0, it is an important milestone in the history of personal computers. For example, with the introduction of USB manufacturers have begun to reduce the number of “mandatory” port in laptops, to eventually reduce their size and to turn from the rather impressive suitcases in modern ultrabooks. A connectors miniUSB and microUSB later helped in the same way the development of technology for smartphones and tablets.

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USB 2.0: and screw up …

USB 1.0 was useful mainly for its versatility. Interface speed only enough to transfer small files, so by the beginning of the 2000s was designed USB 2.0 standard. However it came into the world, and USB-drives or “USB drive”, and this is where users went to the full. In just a few minutes on a flash drive could not copy a couple of files, and the whole season of the show or the Windows installation files. In addition, unlike the CD, you can do it once was, and spoil the stick was harder than scratch the CD. Even the CD-drives and other peripherals using USB are now could not be embedded in personal computers or laptops, but simply connect to them as needed. Into the hands of users and manufacturers played and the fact that the majority of USB-devices are “hot” setting, and were ready to work immediately after connection, without the need to restart the computer.

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USB 3.0 / 3.1: only stars above

With received in 2013 the mass distribution of USB 3.0 standard, it seems, slept last restrictions. Given the speed of the standard, which is more then a few times have increased with the advent of USB 3.1, users can in a few minutes to transfer to each other the entire collection of high-resolution pictures, movies in 1080p resolution and music in lossless-format. And could not throw, but just look, for example, video of impressive dimensions directly from a flash drive or external hard drive.

USB speed depending on interface generation

USB 1.0 – up to 1.5 Mbps
USB 1.1 – up to 12 Mbps
USB 2.0 – up to 480 Mbps
USB 3.0 / USB 3.1 Gen 1 – up to 5Gbps
USB 3.1 Gen 2 – up to 10 Gbps

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USB-C: symmetry glory

By the way, in the same 2013, the USB Type-C interface was born (later it was called simply USB-C), which has gained popularity now. It is popular mainly because of the miniature size, the symmetry of the connector, which can be inserted by either side, and the ability to do everything at once – transfer data, sound and image, charge connected gadgets and provide Internet access. USB 1.0 with this load would definitely failed. In addition, for the first time in many years, USB-C has allowed PC and Apple technology standards to “meet” because USB-C cables are compatible with Thunderbolt 3 connectors, which evolved alongside USB and were used primarily in MacBooks.

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Why iPhone does not charge from a USB port of a computer, a power bank, or charging turns off after an hour

15/11/2021 by

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If you are faced with the fact that the iPhone or iPad suddenly stops charging via USB from a computer or a power bank, then most likely the function is to blame. USB Restricted Mode, which appeared in iOS 12. This innovation is designed to protect the device from hacker techniques used by special services.

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USB Restricted Mode on iPhone and iPad: what is it and how to set it up correctly?

You can access your iOS device using several methods, including via USB. For example, through the Lightning connector, an attacker can download all the necessary data from the iPhone (or iPad), hack the passcode, and unlock the device.

USB Restricted Mode, introduced in iOS 12, disables charging and data transfer over Lightning if more than an hour has passed since the last time you unlocked your iPhone or iPad. That is, even having obtained a device, an attacker will not be able to remove data from it via USB, if enough time has passed since the moment it was last unlocked.

The mode is activated by default, however there may be circumstances in which you would like to disable it. For example, to charge your phone from a friend’s computer or while using CarPlay on long journeys when you cannot unlock your iPhone for a long time.

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How to disable / enable USB Restricted Access Mode

1. Open the app “Settings”;

2. Select Face ID and Passcode or Touch ID and Passcode depending on the device used;

3. Enter your access code;

4. Scroll down to the option “USB accessories”;

5. If more than an hour has passed since the last unlocking of the device, and you do not want to allow data transfer via USB, leave the switch in the off position;

6. If you want to enable USB data transfer, slide the switch to the desired position.

Remember, it is best not to touch the switch to protect your device. Typically, users will unlock their iPhones every hour or two. If you need to transfer data from a mobile device to a Mac or Windows computer, simply connect it to your computer and enter your passcode. Data will be transferred even if more than an hour has passed since the last unlock.

USB Restricted Mode only available on iPhones and iPads with iOS 12 or later. The mode turns off the device access to the CarPlay interface if more than an hour has passed since it was last unlocked, so in this case, users will have to deactivate the function. From Apple documentation:

“When connecting an iPod Accessory Protocol (iAP) USB accessory via a Lightning connector (such as CarPlay, accessories and chargers, or removable memory cards) or connecting to a Mac or PC, you may need to unlock your device in order for it to recognize the accessory. “.

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How to configure Windows to eject USB sticks and drives without using Safely Remove.

11/09/2021 by ALOK DAS

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One of the first lessons in working with flash drives involved removing them from a computer port. Everyone knows that you cannot turn off a USB flash drive unexpectedly, while writing information to it. And at the end of the work, it is necessary to carry out Safe Removal devices. But in Windows 10, the need to look for a small button in the tray and click on it to turn off the flash drive disappeared. The October 2018 1809 update made life unexpectedly easier for millions of users. Microsoft said that the protection of external drives was implemented in Windows 7, but the implementation of such a solution was officially announced only in Windows 10.

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In fact, such a function has been around in Windows for a long time.

The default functionality depends on the Windows build. For external drives connected via USB or Thunderbolt, Windows implements two main policies: “Quick removal” and “Optimal performance“. In Windows 10, version 1809, the first is installed by default. Previously, the operating system focused on better device performance.

Windows allows you to set different policy settings for each external device. The system will remember them after turning off the device. When it is turned on again on the same port, the specified parameters will be applied to the drive.

Any user can change the policy settings for their storage devices as needed. There are two options available with the following specific features:

Quick removal. This policy manages communication with external drives so that they can be removed from the system at any time. Thus, you can simply remove the USB flash drive from the USB port without a procedure. Safe Removal… But to implement such a policy, Windows abandoned disk write caching. Because of this, the communication speed has deteriorated.

Optimal performance. By applying this policy, the work with the drive is carried out in such a way as to maximize the performance of data exchange. After applying the policy, Windows starts caching write operations when working with a USB flash drive. But to remove the device from the computer, you will have to use the procedure Safe Removal… It will protect the data on the device and ensure the completion of all planned operations.

In other words, if you have Windows 10 build 1809 or higher installed on your computer, then “safe removal” is not required (although it remains on the system as an option).

The only thing, always remember that in any case, you cannot remove flash drives and disks while writing data to them. Any other time – no problem.

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How to change the policy for a connected external storage device (USB stick, etc.) in Windows 10

1. Connect the drive to your computer.

2. Right-click the menu “Start“And select”Conductor“.

3. Determine the drive letter or label associated with the external drive. For example, it could be “My Data (E🙂“.

4. Now right-click again on the “Start“And select the menu”Disk management“.

5. In the lower part of the window, in the list of disks, find the drive, click on its heading in the left column with the right mouse button and select the “Properties“.

6. In the new window, go to the “Politicians»And select the required value for this device. When you select the item, “Optimal performance“, You can additionally activate the item”Allow write caching for this device“, Which will increase the speed of data exchange.

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How to set up your computer to safely remove a USB stick or hard drive on older versions of Windows

In older versions of Windows, you can also enable the Safely Disconnect External Drives feature. To do this, change the default policy setting.

1. From the menu Start → Control Panel go to “Device Manager“.

2. In the section “Disk devices“Select your external storage and right-click on it and select”Properties“.

3. In the “Politics»Set the required parameter. To be able to safely disconnect the device without additional manipulation, select “Quick removal“. Otherwise, when activating the second menu item, you will have to use the procedure “Safely remove a device“.

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Are magnets dangerous for smartphones, SSDs, USB sticks and hard drives on computers?

08/07/2021 by ALOK DAS

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Users are often wary of magnets lying near electronics. Someone told us, or we saw it ourselves: these things can easily distort the image, or even permanently break expensive gadgets. But is the threat really that great?

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Imagine a situation: magnets were bought as a present for a child. In less than an hour, these gizmos are near the computer, near the smartphone, near the TV … Dad’s many months’ salary is under threat. The father of the family takes the “magnets” and throws them on the far shelf, but then he thinks: maybe not everything is so scary?

This is exactly what happened to DigitalTrends journalist Simon Hill. In search of the truth, he decided to turn to experts.

Matt Newby, first4magnets:

“People have such ideas from old electronic devices – for example, CRT monitors and televisions, which were sensitive to magnetic fields. Placing a strong magnet near one of these devices could distort the image. Fortunately, modern TVs and monitors are not that sensitive. “

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What about smartphones?

“The vast majority of the magnets you encounter every day, even some of the very strong ones, will not negatively impact your smartphone. In fact, there are also several very small magnets inside it that are responsible for important functions. For example, Apple Watch uses wireless magnetic induction charging. “

But it’s too early to relax. Matt warns that magnetic fields can still interfere with some sensors – notably the digital compass and magnetometer. And if you bring a strong magnet to your smartphone, the steel components will magnetize. They will become weak magnets and prevent the compass from calibrating correctly.

In the meantime, there is no need to worry about it. ”

Don’t use a compass and think it doesn’t concern you? The problem is that other, sometimes very necessary applications need it. For example, Google Maps compass is required in order to determine the orientation of the smartphone in space. It is also necessary in dynamic games. For the owners of the latest iPhone models, magnets can even interfere with taking pictures – after all, the smartphone uses optical image stabilization. Therefore, Apple does not recommend that makers of official cases include magnets or metal components in their products.

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Next in line are hard drives

The idea that magnets can easily destroy the contents of an HDD is still very popular today. Suffice it to recall an episode from the cult series Breaking Bad, where the main character Walter White destroys digital dirt on himself with a huge electromagnet. Matt takes the floor again:

“Magnetically recorded data can be damaged by magnets – this includes things like cassettes, floppy disks, VHS videotapes and plastic cards.”

And yet – is it possible what Brian Cranston’s character did in real life?

“In theory, damaging a hard drive is an incredibly strong magnet, if you bring it right up to the surface of the drive, it’s possible. But the hard drives contain neodymium magnets … a regular-sized magnet will do the trick. If you, for example, attach magnets to the outside of your PC’s system unit, this will have no effect on the hard drive. “

And if your laptop or PC runs on an SSD, there is nothing to worry about:

“Flash drives and SSDs are not affected even by strong static magnetic fields.”

At home, we are surrounded by magnets, says the expert. They are used in every computer, speaker, TV, motor, smartphone. Modern life would be simply impossible without them.

Perhaps the main danger posed by strong neodymium magnets is the danger of being swallowed by a young child. If you swallow several at once, they will be attracted to each other through the intestinal walls, warns Matt. Accordingly, the child cannot avoid peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal cavity – ed.), And, therefore, immediate surgical intervention.

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USB port not working on Mac, how to recover?

02/03/2021 by ALOK DAS

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Mac computers, just like almost all Apple products, have proven to be excellent in terms of the reliability of the hardware (which cannot be said about maintainability in case of serious breakdowns). Still, as you use your Mac, sometimes difficulties arise, one of which is the inoperability of the USB ports. It would seem that the problem came out of nowhere for no reason. As a rule, this is treated at home.

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If you keep your computer clean and tidy, and do not damage it from careless use, then most likely USB failure is a software error that can be easily eliminated. Of course, you should not exclude the inoperability of the connected gadget or accessory, but if everything is in order with this (and you should definitely experiment with connecting various devices / accessories to different ports / computers) and reboot didn’t help, then feel free to proceed with a rather serious method – resetting the parameters of the system management controller (SMC). This procedure is done in different ways on different Macs.

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ATTENTION! This article only applies to Mac computers with an Intel processor.

How do I reset the SMC on iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Pro manufactured before 2018?

one… Turn off your computer ( → Turn Off).

2… Unplug the computer’s power cord from the outlet

3… Wait 15 seconds.

four… Plug in the power cord.

five… Wait 5 seconds.

6… Turn on the computer by pressing the power button.

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How to Reset SMC on Macs with Apple T2 Processor

The Apple T2 Security Chip is equipped with:

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020)
iMac Pro
Mac Pro (2019)
Mac Pro (rackmount, 2019)
Mac mini (2018)
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018 and newer)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018 and newer)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018 and newer)
MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019 and newer)

To make sure you have an Apple T2 processor on your computer, go to the menu Apple () → “System Information”. In the left pane, select the Controller or iBridge section, depending on your macOS version.

Inscription “Apple T2 processor” on the right means your Mac has an Apple T2 processor.

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Resetting SMC on iMac Pro (2017) and Mac mini (2018)

1. Turn off your computer using the Apple menu .

2. After turning off the computer, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds.

3. Release the power button and wait a few seconds.

4. Turn on the computer by pressing the power button.

Alternative method:

1. Turn off your computer using the Apple menu .

2. Disconnect the power cord.

3. Wait 20 seconds.

4. Reconnect the network cable.

5. Wait 5 seconds and then turn on the computer again by pressing the power button.

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Resetting the SMC on MacBook Air (2018 and later) and MacBook Pro (2018 and later)

1. Turn off your computer using the Apple menu .

2. After turning off the computer, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds.

3. Release the power button and wait a few seconds.

4. Turn on the computer by pressing the power button.

Alternative method:

1. Turn off your computer using the Apple menu .

2. Press and hold for 7 seconds right key ⇧Shift, left key ⌥Option (Alt) and left Control key… Without releasing these keys, press and hold the power button for another 7 seconds.

3. Release all keys and wait a few seconds.

4. Turn on the computer by pressing the power button.

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How to reset SMC on MacBook with non-removable battery?

Apple notebook computers with a non-removable battery include all MacBook Air, MacBook introduced in Fall 2009 and MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015 and newer)

one… Turn off your computer.

2… Connect the Apple MagSafe or USB-C Power Adapter to the mains and the MacBook itself.

3… Hold down the keyboard shortcut ⇧Shift + Ctrl + ⌥Option (Alt) left, and then press the power button at the same time.

Continue to hold down the keys and the power button for 10 seconds. On Apple laptops with a Touch ID sensor, the Touch ID button is also the power button.

four… Release all keys at the same time.

five… Turn on your MacBook by pressing the power button.

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How do I reset the SMC on a MacBook with a removable battery (before 2009)?

one… Turn off your computer.

2… Disconnect the MagSafe power adapter from the MacBook if connected.

3… Remove the battery.

four… Hold down the power button for 5 seconds and then release it.

6… Install the battery on your MacBook.

7… Connect the MagSafe power adapter to your MacBook.

8… Turn on your MacBook by pressing the power button.

The most interesting thing is that the service centers do this simple operation and take money for nothing, hiding their manipulations under the terrible name with the abbreviation SMC.

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What if resetting SMC didn’t work?

If one or several USB ports do not work, and the rest are functioning normally, then it is necessary to diagnose the internal hardware components of the computer using the standard Apple program “Apple Diagnostics” or “Apple Hardware Test”. You can read all the details on this page.

If some of the USB devices on your Mac are functional and some are not, then you are likely to have a compatibility issue. Try installing the driver.
If there are some macOS system updates available, be sure to install them.

If all else fails, then feel free to take the money and stomp to the service center.

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Why iPhone won’t charge from a USB port of a computer, a power bank, or charging turns off after an hour

19/12/2020 by ALOK DAS

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♥ BY TOPIC: Widgets on iPhone or iPad: how to add, customize and use.

USB Restricted Mode on iPhone and iPad: what is it and how to set it up correctly?

You can access your iOS device using several methods, including via USB. For example, a cracker can download all the necessary data from the iPhone (or iPad) through the Lightning connector, hack the passcode, and unlock the device.

USB Restricted Mode, introduced in iOS 12, disables charging and data transfer over Lightning if more than an hour has passed since the last time you unlocked your iPhone or iPad. That is, even having obtained a device, an attacker will not be able to retrieve data from it via USB, if enough time has passed since the moment it was last unlocked.

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How to disable / enable USB Restricted Access Mode

1. Open the app “Settings”;

2. Select Face ID and Passcode or Touch ID and Passcode depending on the device used;

3. Enter your access code;

4. Scroll down to the option “USB accessories”;

5. If more than an hour has passed since the last unlocking of the device, and you do not want to allow data transfer via USB, leave the switch in the off position;

6. If you want to enable USB data transfer, slide the switch to the desired position.

USB Restricted Mode only available on iPhones and iPads with iOS 12 or later. The mode disables the device from accessing the CarPlay interface if more than an hour has passed since it was last unlocked, so in this case users will have to deactivate the function. From Apple documentation:

“When connecting an iPod Accessory Protocol (iAP) USB accessory via a Lightning connector (such as CarPlay, accessories and chargers, or removable memory cards) or connecting to a Mac or PC, you may need to unlock your device in order for it to recognize the accessory. “.

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Transcend ESD250C Review – Fast External SSD Slightly Bigger than a USB Flash Drive

04/11/2020 by ALOK DAS

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Not so long ago, ordinary USB sticks more than met the requirements of the average user when it came to temporary storage of relatively small amounts of data. However, modern problems require modern solutions; to work with information, higher speeds and volumes of storage are already required.

Buy Transcend ESD250C

Video

Transcend ESD250C

It is a fully portable and compact device with enough memory (960GB) for storing media, heavy backups, console games, etc. Such a drive can be a great solution for users who shoot 4K videos and need fast and reliable storage for their content.

Transcend ESD250C design

Like most other Transcend products, this portable storage model has a rather austere style. The aluminum case has an oblong rectangular shape, painted gray with beveled silver edges and the company logo on the front side. Due to this, the device retains its presentable appearance for a long time, is scratch-resistant and reliably protects the electronics placed inside the case.

It will be convenient to transport the Transcend ESD250C even in a jacket pocket, the gadget has dimensions of 120.2 × 33.6 × 7.5 mm and weighs 47 grams.

Functional

A very common use case for such drives is expanding the standard amount of laptop memory. Instead of a substantial overpayment for a MacBook (for example) in a top-end configuration with a capacious drive, you can purchase 960 GB of Transcend ESD250C memory, while saving money and getting portable memory.

In addition, Transcend ESD250C is convenient to use with OTG-compatible devices, game consoles, cameras.

Transcend ESD250C baud rate

The main advantage of Transcend ESD250C over most ordinary flash drives is the data transfer speed, which is provided by the highly efficient USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface and can reach peak values of 520 MB / s (read speed) and 460 MB / s (write speed).

At the same time, the declared figure is not a marketing product to the degree of a real indicator of speed, but is quite realistically achieved during simple testing, provided that a standard or other appropriate cable is used, and there are no software problems on the side of the counterparty device. When testing Transcend ESD250C in our edition, the values obtained are even higher than those stated by the manufacturer!

Transcend ESD250C Package Contents

Included with the Transcend ESD250C drive, the user receives two super-speed USB Type-C / USB Type-C and USB Type-A / USB Type-C cables for data transfer. Please note that it is the super-speed cables marked “SS” (Super Speed) that are capable of providing the maximum connection speed corresponding to the wired one.

Technical Specifications (Specifications) Transcend ESD250C

Dimensions: 120.16mm x 33.6mm x 7.5mm;
Weight: 47 g;
Colour: Silver;
Interfaces: USB Type C – USB Type A / USB Type C – USB Type C;
Connection interface: USB 3.1 Gen 2;
Connection indicator: there is;
Default file system: exFAT;
Memory: type 3D;
Capacity: 960 GB;
Working temperature: 0 ° C ~ 60 ° C;
Working voltage: 5V;
Warranty: 36 months;
Performance: Read speed (max.) 520 MB / s / Write speed (max.) 460 MB / s;
System requirements: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.0 or later.

Software

For comfortable and reliable work with information for Transcend products, it is recommended to use proprietary Transcend Elite software, which allows you to recover, reliably protect and encrypt data, back up and organize cloud storage.

Download Transcend Elite for Windows and Mac

Download Transcend Elite for Android

Buy Transcend ESD250C

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How to transfer a photo (video) from an iPhone to a computer, USB flash drive or external hard drive

26/09/2020 by ALOK DAS

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IPhone owners with little storage space sometimes marvel at how quickly their smartphone runs out of space. This problem is most often encountered by lovers of photos and videos, as well as fans of Live Photos.

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True, it can be easily solved – you just need to activate the function of saving backups to the cloud storage, for example, to the iCloud Photo Media Library (although the service is paid). Users who are interested exclusively in free unlimited services can use Google Photos or Yandex.Disk.

In addition, photos can be backed up to a desktop computer. However, a 128 GB Mac is clearly not enough for this purpose, so you often have to use external drives.

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How to transfer photos (videos) from iPhone or iPad to Windows computer or external storage using a cable

1. Connect an external storage drive (USB-stick). If you are going to transfer photos or videos simply to your computer, skip this step.

Make sure the connected external drive appears in Windows Explorer.

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2. Connect the iPhone or iPad from which you want to transfer photos to your Windows computer using a cable.

When connecting an iPhone or iPad to a computer, the device should be recognized as an external device.

3. Click the icon of the connected Apple device.

4. Follow the path Internal Storage → DCIM…

If instead of the DCIM folder, the inscription is displayed “This folder is empty”, unlock the connected iPhone or iPad and press Allow on the notification that appears.

After that, the DCIM folder will appear in Windows Explorer…

All photos and videos will be placed in system folders like “100APPLE”… Copy the entire contents of the DCIM folder or selected photos and videos to your computer.

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How to transfer photos and videos from iPhone (iPad) to Mac using AirDrop

The main condition for transferring files via AirDrop is that devices (iPhone or iPad and Mac) are on the same Wi-Fi network. Also, both devices must have Bluetooth enabled.

Starting with iOS 10 and macOS Sierra, AirDrop works almost flawlessly.

1… On your Mac, open Finder and go to AirDrop.

2… On iPhone or iPad, open the Photos app. Go to the required Album and press the button Choose in the upper right corner.

3… Select a photo or video to copy to your Mac (you can swipe to select photos and videos without lifting your finger).

4… Click on the icon Share this in the lower left corner.

In a few seconds, the available devices for AirDrop will appear in the middle left of the screen.

five… Tap the icon of the Mac that appears and the file transfer starts. The downloaded files will be available in the folder Downloads on Mac.

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How to transfer photos and videos from iPhone or iPad to Mac using the Image Capture application

Run the Mac program “Capturing images“. To open the program, enter its name in the Spotlight search (you can use the “hot” keys ⌘Cmd + Space).

Once launched, in the control panel on the left, find the iOS device and click on it. All photos and videos stored on the iPhone or iPad appear on the screen. Now you can manually select the pictures you want to save on the external hard drive, or select all at once by clicking on ⌘Cmd + A…

By default, images are saved to the “Images“. Call the drop-down menu and click on “Other“. Now select a folder on your external hard drive where you want to save the photo.

Optionally, you can delete photos and videos from your iOS device when you move them to your Mac. To do this, check the box next to Delete after import in the lower left corner.

Click on the “Import»And wait until the photos or videos are saved. If your hard drive supports USB 2.0, and there are a lot of photos, the whole process can take much more than a few minutes.

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How to read formatted (HFS + and APFS) USB flash drive on Mac in Windows: 4 ways

10/08/2020 by ALOK DAS

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Windows and macOS use different file systems – for hard drives for Windows it is NTFS, for macos it is HFS + (in newer versions it was replaced by APFS). External hard drives and USB sticks are formatted in another Windows-supported standard – FAT32, macOS “understands” this format. But…

It often happens that an external drive or flash drive is not created on a Mac in FAT32 – and, therefore, Windows cannot read the information on the device. Below we will discuss how to “teach” the Microsoft operating system to understand “someone else’s speech.”

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1. Installing Apple HFS + Drivers (HFS +, Read Only)

If all you need from the files on the flash drive is reading, there is an option with the installation of the appropriate software from Apple for Windows.

Important: make sure there is no Paragon or MacDrive software on your Windows computer before installing the drivers. If they are already installed, remove them.

Download the appropriate Apple HFS + driver here, then do the following:

Copy files ApplsHFS.sys and AppleMNT.sys in C: Windows System32 drivers
Combine the file Add_AppleHFS.reg with your windows registry.
Restart your computer.

The entire installation process is shown in detail in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuXNXcDYXRIIn the meantime, there is no need to know about it. ”

After rebooting, if everything is done correctly, your Windows PC should recognize the connected USB flash drive or external hard drive.

If you want to not only read, but also edit files on removable drives, then one of the following methods will suit you.

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2. HFSExplorer (HFS +)

Price: Free

The only free solution to solve our problem.

Note: Windows and Java administrator rights are required to run. Yes, ideally it would be nice to live without the “Java” in general, but in this case, you will have to either install it or pay money.

HFSExplorer is very easy to use. Simply connect your Mac-formatted external drive to your Windows computer, open the program, and then select File – Load File System From Device. HFSExplorer will automatically recognize, mount and open HFS + devices. Files on a USB flash drive can be unzipped and transferred to Windows.

Note: keep in mind that HFSExplorer is read-only, i.e. you won’t be able to change files on your Mac stick or delete them. In addition, the program does not integrate with Windows Explorer – files are available for work only in the HFSExplorer application, and to work they must first be copied into the Windows environment.

Download HFSExplorer

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3. Paragon HFS + for Windows and Paragon APFS for Windows (read and write)

Price: 1440 rubles, there is a trial period for 10 days

We pay money – but we get full access to read and write on a Mac-flash driveconnected to a Windows computer. Besides, working with files is carried out at high speed, which cannot be said about the previous program. Why, Paragon HFS + (or APFS) for Windows integrates HFS + (or APFS) with Windows Explorer! As a result, any application can read and write files formatted in an incomprehensible “poppy” format. It’s convenient – and safe, because you don’t need to install unsafe Java on your computer.

And yes – if you need to read HFS + (or APFS) – a USB flash drive for Windows once in your life (and this is most often the case), then a 10-day “trial” is enough for you, you won’t have to buy anything.

Useful advice: if you encounter the error “inaccessible_boot_device”, boot into BIOS, specify IDEA in SATA settings, boot into Windows Safe Mode, do System Restore, then return to BIOS and set the old setting in the SATA section – AHCI.

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4. MacDrive (HFS +, read and write)

Price: $ 50, with a free 5-day trial

The most expensive option of all. Like Paragon’s solution, it offers full read / write access via Windows Explorer and high speed. There are also tools for recovering and splitting a disk into parts – and everything in the file systems familiar to Mac.

Download MacDrive

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How to check the speed of SSD, HDD, or USB stick on Mac (macOS)

09/06/2020 by ALOK DAS

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Checking the read and write speeds of a hard drive, a USB flash drive, or an external drive (SSD, HDD) can be very useful. For example, the speed of the system hard drive directly reflects the failure of your computer.

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And the speed of the “flash drive” or other external drive may indicate the possibility of launching the OS, program or media file directly from it. For all such measurements, the free Blackmagic Disk Speed Test utility for macOS is ideal.

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How to check the speed of SSD, HDD, or USB stick on Mac (macOS)

1. Download the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test application from the Mac App Store (link at the end of the article).

2. Launch the application. The main window of the program is a “dashboard with two speedometers.” The left one is responsible for writing speed, the right one is for reading speed. Below is a list of file types (video of various formats) used for performance tests.

3. Click on the settings icon located in the middle to select the hard drive, USB flash drive or other drive whose read and write speed you want to test.

4. Press the center key labeled Start to start testing.

After testing, the results will be presented in the lower right corner of the screen. In fact, without a table with the results, the capabilities of your drive will be clear. It is enough to take a look at the “speedometers” during the test.

Download Blackmagic Disk Speed Test from the Mac App Store

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How to start a Mac with booting from USB, an external hard drive, or a CD / DVD

17/05/2020 by ALOK DAS

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MacOS can be launched on Mac in various ways, which we have already written an informative article about. In the same article, we will dwell on Mac startup mode with booting from CD / DVD, USB, or from an external hard drive.

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Starting a Mac with booting from an external drive may be necessary if you need to run another version or copy of macOS, fix any problems, and so on.

To start, the following conditions must be met:

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How to start a Mac from a bootable CD / DVD?

1. Turn on your Mac by pressing the power button or restart your computer if it is already running.

2. Hold down the key WITH on the keyboard and hold until the boot menu appears. The Mac should boot from the CD / DVD installed in the optical drive. You can also click the left mouse button when starting the operating system in order to remove the drive.

You can burn the macOS image to a bootable CD / DVD using “Disk utility“.

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How to boot to Mac from an external USB storage device?

1. Connect a USB flash drive or external hard drive with macOS installed to your Mac (installation instructions).

2. Turn on your Mac by pressing the power button or restart your computer if it is already running.

3. Hold down the key ⌥Option (Alt) on the keyboard and hold until the boot menu appears.

4. Select the desired volume using the mouse, arrow, or trackpad.

Note: If the desired volume is not displayed, wait a few seconds until the Download Manager finishes scanning the mapped drives.

5. Press the key Return (Enter)to boot a Mac from the selected volume.

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How to start a Mac from another hard drive (USB) / choose a default boot disk from macOS system settings?

1. Open the menu  → System Settings …

2. Click on the “Boot volume“.

3. From the list of available volumes, select the disk you want to use as the boot disk.

After rebooting macOS or next start? Mac starts the operating system from the selected volume.

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macOS does not boot from an external hard drive, what should I do?

Answer:

1. Some older external USB drives require additional power. It is possible that it must be connected to an external power source or use a second USB in Mac.

2. Make sure that the external drive is turned on (again, the prerogative of old USB drives).

3. Restore access rights to the disk and correct errors on it.

4. Make sure the drive is formatted with the type of partition GUID selected.

5. Try connecting the external drive to a different USB port.

6. Make sure the external drive is bootable.

7. Connect the drive directly, without using a USB hub.

See also:

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USB (USB Type-C) hubs for MacBook and iMac with AliExpress

22/04/2020 by ALOK DAS

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A multifunctional USB hub refers to the type of device whose acquisition is, in fact, a matter of time spent. Such devices are relatively inexpensive, and the ease of use paired with a laptop or desktop computer is difficult to overestimate.

In the selection below, we have collected several mid-budget (by the standards of AliExpress) USB hubs with a sufficient number of reviews from reliable sellers and wide functionality. The most affordable models can be easily found independently, however, it should be remembered that such gadgets can harm the computer.

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Ugreen

Let’s start with a very popular model from a well-known brand, which has more than 3,000 orders and a high customer rating (4.9 out of 5). The hub has three specifications, differing among themselves by connectors for video transmission. These are HDMI (4K support), VGA (Full-HD support) and HDMI + VGA. When ordering the HDMI + VGA version, please note that the ports cannot be used simultaneously.

Connection to a laptop or PC is via USB Type-C with support for Thunderbolt 3.0 and laptop delivery Power Delivery (without a hub, charging is still somewhat faster), another USB-C port is on the other end, it is designed exclusively for data transfer, nearby Gigabit Ethernet is located. Additional devices are connected via USB 3.0 ports, of which three are provided. In addition, the Ugreen hub acts as a card reader, there are slots for SD memory cards.

Buy USB hub Ugreen

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Baseus

The gadget is almost the same in terms of functionality, and is an alternative from the design point of view – Baseus all-metal cases repeat the colors of Apple gadgets. A device designed exclusively for the MacBook Pro since 2016 release.

In terms of functionality, this hub “returns” the user with a busy USB Type-C and Thunderbolt, and also provides an HDMI output with support for 4K, 2 super-fast USB 3.0 (5 Gb / s), memory card slots.

Buy Baseus USB Hub

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Ugreen

Another Ugreen model with wider functionality and original design. This is an aluminum hub with the longitudinal placement of the following connectors:

Gigabit Ethernet RJ45;
3.5 mm input and output for microphone and headphones;
Three USB 3.0 for connecting devices;
HDMI, VGA, DVI for multimedia transmission;
USB Type-C for connecting to a laptop;
USB Type-C for charging gadgets and data transfer;
5.5 mm jack DC 12V / 2A.

Buy USB hub Ugreen

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Dodocool

A slightly simplified version of the USB hub for the MacBook Pro at a lower price.

Buy USB hub Dodocool

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Dzlst

Simple and affordable model. Plastic case with a wired connection, 2 USB ports, HDMI output to a monitor or TV, card reader – cheap and cheerful

Buy USB hub DZLST

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Ugreen

Not all users need the wide functionality of a USB hub, sometimes additional USB ports are conveniently located on the desktop. The Ugreen model has four high-speed USB 3.0 and DC connectors for connecting laptop power, for example. In addition, the device can act as a stand for a mobile device.

Buy USB hub Ugreen

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iMice

An even more affordable hub from the manufacturer is iMice, the functionality is limited to USB ports and their LED pendant, the body is made of aluminum with a non-slip lining.

Buy an inexpensive USB hub

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How to delete files from a USB flash drive or external drive on a Mac

08/04/2020 by ALOK DAS

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To optimally use an external drive (hard drive, SSD, USB), you need to clean it from time to time, deleting unnecessary files. Yes, and disconnecting an external drive in macOS requires user attention. It turns out that this is not always a simple and trivial task.

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Incorrect disconnection of the drive from the system can lead to the fact that the data structure on it will be damaged. As a result, you cannot use this storage in the previous mode, with some probability it will have to be formatted. In this article we will tell you how to better and more correctly delete files on an external drive connected to a Mac.

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Do not remove the USB flash drive or external drive from macOS before emptying the Recycle Bin

When you delete a file from an external drive, it moves to Shopping cart on a Mac. In turn, a shortcut and additional metadata appears on the external drive, which are placed in a hidden folder with the name .Trashes. As soon as you empty the trash on Mac, the contents of this folder on the external drive will be automatically deleted.

If you delete files from an external drive, and then immediately remove the drive from the system without cleaning Baskets, then the free space on the external drive may decrease. And the information in .Trashes may be damaged, which will lead to the inability to calculate its total size. Another consequence may be that you can no longer empty the basket itself. A delete error will occur.

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Browse the .Trashes folder in Finder

If you want to see the folder .Trashes and its contents in Finder, then you have to activate the ability to view hidden files. In this article, we have already talked about how this can be done on a Mac.

♥ BY TOPIC: How to install macOS on an external SSD to speed up an old Mac (iMac, Mac mini, etc.).

How to delete files from a USB stick or external drive on macOS

To delete a file correctly, drag it to Shopping cart on a Mac or select files by deleting them using a combination Command ⌘ + Backspace. After you have done this, it is important to empty the Mac trash bin when the USB or external hard drive is still connected. This will not only delete the file on macOS immediately, but also clear the folder .Trashes on an external drive. That is why unnecessary data will not remain there.

If you deleted files without connecting an external drive, then connect it to your Mac computer and make sure that The basket there is at least one new file. Then clean Shopping cartso macOS also cleans up the folder .Trashes on an external hard drive.

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How to format (erase) a USB flash drive (SSD, HDD) on Windows or Mac (macOS)

23/01/2020 by ALOK DAS

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In the process of formatting a flash drive on a Windows or Mac computer, there is nothing complicated, and many users have repeatedly performed this operation. However, there are a number of nuances that can create certain difficulties, for example, removing write protection, choosing a file system and cluster size, as well as data recovery.

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It should be borne in mind that using formatting, you can not only delete all files, but also debug the device if there are problems in its operation.

You can format a USB flash drive (USB flash drive) in Windows as follows:

1. Run the system formatting tool.

Plug in the USB drive, then go to “My computer“. Right-click on the flash drive icon that appears and select “Format“.

2. Set the desired parameters.

When choosing a file system, the user indicates the type of data organization on the drive.

There are three different options available:

1. FAT32. This type guarantees compatibility with Windows OS, macOS and most USB-compatible devices, such as game consoles, media players, etc. At the same time, the volume of the recorded file should not exceed 4 GB. FAT32 is perhaps the best option for collaboration between Windows and macOS.

2. exFAT. If you select this option, the flash drive will be compatible with Windows, starting with version XP SP2, as well as Mac OS X Snow Leopard and later. This type of file system allows you to write files of any size, but the flash drive may not work on some devices.

3. NTFS. Selecting this type, the user will receive a fully compatible with Windows USB-drive. At the same time, on macOS, you can only view files without being able to overwrite them. NTFS also allows you to download files of any size.

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Having decided on the type of file system, you must specify the cluster size, that is, the distribution unit. In this case, the user needs to select the minimum amount of memory allocated by the device for one file.

If you specify a cluster size of 64 KB, then even smaller files will occupy a minimum of 64 KB of memory. It makes sense to specify the cluster size small if it is assumed that a lot of small files, for example, text documents, will be stored on a flash drive. This way you can save free space, but the speed of the USB drive will decrease. If the user intends to store large files on the USB flash drive, then the value should be specified more. In any case, you can always leave the default value.

In field “Volume label»You can rename the drive.

Do not forget to check “Quick (clear the table of contents)“. If you select this option, you can save time on cleaning, however, if you uncheck the box, the system will check the drive for errors, which may come in handy when debugging, although the process itself will take a little longer.

After completing the selection of options, click “To begin»To start the formatting process.

All the procedures described above can be repeated by formatting the flash drive again.

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How to format on a secure flash drive

Formatting may not be available due to write protection enabled. It can be disabled using the registry editor. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to the registry editor using the key combination Windows + R and paste in the line that appears regeditthen press Enter.

2. Follow the following path in the folder tree: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE → SYSTEM → CurrentControlSet → Control → StorageDevicePolicies (the last directory may be missing).

3. In the folder StorageDevicePolicies open option Writeprotect and change the value from 1 on the 0then press “Save”.

4. Unplug the USB flash drive and restart the computer.

Some flash drives have physical write protection in the form of a switch. In this case, you just need to move the switch to a different position.

In the absence of a catalog StorageDevicePolicies it needs to be created. To do this, right-click on the directory Control and select “Create“→”Section“. Indicate the name StorageDevicePolicies.

Next, right-click on the section StorageDevicePolicies, and then “Create“→”DWORD Parameter” or “QWORD parameter“.

Specify the parameter name Writeprotect and make sure its value is equal 0.

Then close the registry editor, disconnect the USB flash drive and restart the computer.

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What to do if you can’t format the USB flash drive

Sometimes Windows may report that formatting is not possible. The cause of this phenomenon may be a malfunction in the work of both the flash drive itself and the computer.

In such a situation, you can try to use special software to restore normal operation. This software is often located on the website of the manufacturer of the flash drive. For example, for drives manufactured by Transcend, JetFlash Online Recovery is available, and for ADATA, USB Flash Drive Online Recovery is available.

In addition, universal programs are available on the Internet that are suitable for flash drives from any manufacturer, such as the USB Disk Storage Format Tool.

If you tried all the methods described above, but you still can’t format the drive, it may be faulty and needs to be replaced or repaired.

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How to erase and format a USB flash drive or external drive on a Mac?

If you use one or more external drives to store data outside the main Mac drive, you definitely need to know how to handle it in macOS. Further in this material we will tell. how to properly erase and format USB sticks or external drives connected to a computer using the standard macOS toolkit, as well as third-party utilities.

macOS is a self-contained OS. Apple programmers have introduced advanced utilities in it for comfortable operation of the system right out of the box. To solve problems associated with managing internal or external disks, there is a standard application “Disk utility“. With its help, the user can not only erase the disk, but also format it in a format that is understandable for Windows computers or for using Boot Camp.

1. Open “Disk utility»In any way convenient for you (via Dock, Launchpad, Explorer Finder (Programs → Utilities), or Spotlight search).

2. In the left side menu, select the external drive of interest connected to the Mac (it will be displayed in the “External“).

Please note that in the structure of the left side menu both disks and partitions are displayed. A disk can contain several separate partitions (their names appear slightly to the right of the disk name). Erasing a partition, you only destroy files that are stored directly on it. When formatting a disk, all partitions and all data that is on this disk are erased. Be careful!

3. Press the buttonErase“. Specify a name for the partition or disk and select the format of interest:

APFS – The standard macOS file system, introduced in 2016, is used in macOS 10.13 and later;
APFS (encrypted) – file system with additional volume encryption;
APFS (case sensitive) – the file system defines, for example, folders with the names “Yablik” and “Yablok” as two completely different folders;
APFS (case sensitive, encrypted) – combined file system with all the nuances of the formats described above;
Mac OS Extended (Journaled) – The standard macOS file system, used in macOS 10.12 and earlier;
Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted) – file system with additional volume encryption;
Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled) – the file system defines, for example, folders with the names “Yablik” and “Yablok” as two completely different folders;
Mac OS Extended (case sensitive, journaled, encrypted) – combined file system with all the nuances of the formats described above;
MS-DOS (FAT) – used on a PC running Windows with disks of 32 GB or less;
Exfat – Used on Windows PCs with disks larger than 32 GB. Use this method if you need to format to NTFS format.

Typically, Mac users format external drives (internal, especially) to the Mac OS Extended format (journaled). Formatting in MS-DOS (FAT) or ExFAT is ideal if you are going to use a USB flash drive or an external drive with both macOS and Windows computers.

ATTENTION! Choosing the encryption option you will need to come up with a password and remember it. If you forget the password, then you will not be able to decrypt the drive and receive data in any way.

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4. If you format an external drive as a whole with several partitions, then in the “Scheme»Select a layout (in detail):

GUID Partition Scheme – select this option to use drives with Mac computers based on Intel processors;
Master Boot Record (or “fdisk”) – use this scheme if you intend to use the disk as a secondary drive from Windows to Mac installed through Boot Camp;
Apple Partition Scheme – Compatible with PowerPC Mac computers with macOS 10.4 or earlier.

5. Optionally, you can specify the encryption settings. The simpler the protection, the faster the drive will work, but it will be less protected from third parties.

6. Press the buttonErase»And wait until the formatting process is complete. When the disk icon disappears from the desktop, do not worry. After formatting is complete, everything will be displayed again.

7. After the formatting process is completed, click the “Done“And exit”Disk utility“.

To correctly eject a disk in the Finder Explorer, move the mouse cursor over the name of the disk and on the right click on the special icon. On the desktop, right-click on the disk and select “Extract “disc name”“.

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How to write data to a USB flash drive formatted in NTFS on Mac

Many users in the process of using Mac computers are faced with a situation where it is impossible to write data (read-only) to a USB flash drive or external drive. In this case, you must either use the above instructions and format the disk, for example, in MS-DOS (FAT) or ExFAT format (it will be readable on both Mac and Windows), or install the Paragon NTFS for Mac driver.

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How to create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 10 from macOS

13/01/2020 by ALOK DAS

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Windows is more cranky and less stable than macOS from Apple. The openness of the OS, the lack of an integrated backup system and a large number of malware often lead to the need to reinstall Windows.

If you have a second Windows computer at hand, creating a bootable USB flash drive will not be difficult.

📍 thanks re: Store for useful information. 👌

Now we’ll show you how to get out of the situation when there is only a working Mac.

To the point: how to create a bootable macOS flash drive on Windows

A few years ago, you could create a bootable USB flash drive using the standard utility Boot camp, which is designed to quickly install Windows on a Mac.

The application prepared a bootable USB flash drive, recorded the Windows installer on it and poured drivers for the correct operation of all Mac modules. It was possible to use such a USB flash drive not only on Apple computers, with its help it was possible to install Windows on any suitable computer.

Recently, macOS developers have redesigned the utility and instead of creating a bootable USB flash drive, it immediately starts installing the system on a separate Mac partition.

Fortunately, there is another fairly simple way to specify a USB flash drive for installing Windows.

How to create a bootable Windows flash drive

1. First you need an image with an operating system. You can download it directly from the official Microsoft website.

A Windows 10 image takes up a little more than 5 GB of disk space; it usually takes 15 to 30 minutes to download.

2. Next, you need a flash drive of 8 GB or more, which will be formatted in the format Fat32. And here the Cupertinos again try to put us sticks in the wheels.

The disk utility, which previously could easily bring the drive to the form we need, now does not offer a choice of format Fat32.

So instead of using a couple of convenient standard applications macOS will have to work in the almighty Terminal.

3. In the Terminal, execute the following command:

diskutil list

We see a list of internal and external drives on the Mac. We find the desired volume and remember its number. Next, enter the command:

sudo diskutil eraseDisk FAT32 WININSTALL MBRFormat /dev/disk3

Fat32 – the file system we need;
WININSTALL – flash drive label after formatting (you can specify any name);
disk3 – number of the connected drive, which we will format.

Enter the administrator password, wait a few seconds and get a ready-made blank flash drive.

4. It remains only to copy the contents of the image from Windows 10 to a USB flash drive.

To do this, mount the image and enter the following command in the Terminal:

cp -R расположение_образа/ расположение_флешки

In order not to manually register long paths, you just need to enter the beginning of the “cp -R“ command, and then drag the image onto the Terminal window from the Finder. The path to it will be registered automatically.

Now we write “/” (without quotation marks with a space) and drag and drop the USB flash drive from the Finder into the Terminal.

5. Copying will take some time. No status will be displayed. The end of the process can be judged by the luminous diode on the USB flash drive (it will blink during copying).

You can just wait about 20 minutes.

Now the flash drive can be used to boot on computers and laptops with UEFI support. Unfortunately, this method is not suitable for older Windows PCs.