I need to format an (external) disk for use on my Sony TV. The TV can read NTFS volumes, and FAT volumes, but NOT exFAT volumes. This is unfortunate because the programmes we'd like to watch are often bigger than 4Gb, and FAT will not handle such files -- one needs exFAT, or NTFS.
The answer _seems_ to be "Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon", which allows you
to read and write NTFS disks.
However, I cannot find any reference on their site for _formatting_ a disk as an NTFS volume. I don't want to just assume that "write" also means "format" as well. Does anyone know about this? (I can't find a "Contact" link on their
site either.)
Perhaps the answer would be to find a PC-owning friend who'd format the disk as NTFS for me. But No that wouldn't work either, because even then I wouldn't
be able to _write_ the files to the disk from my Mac -- I'd have to acquire and use MNTFSfMbP to write files.
(Crikey!).
I need to format an (external) disk for use on my Sony TV. The TV can read NTFS volumes, and FAT volumes, but NOT exFAT volumes. This is unfortunate because the programmes we'd like to watch are often bigger than 4Gb, and FAT will not handle such files -- one needs exFAT, or NTFS.
The answer _seems_ to be "Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon", which allows you
to read and write NTFS disks.
However, I cannot find any reference on their site for _formatting_ a disk as an NTFS volume. I don't want to just assume that "write" also means "format" as well. Does anyone know about this? (I can't find a "Contact" link on their
site either.)
On 15 Jun 2026 at 14:11:31 GMT+1, "Another John" <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:
I need to format an (external) disk for use on my Sony TV. The TV can read
NTFS volumes, and FAT volumes, but NOT exFAT volumes. This is unfortunate >> because the programmes we'd like to watch are often bigger than 4Gb, and FAT >> will not handle such files -- one needs exFAT, or NTFS.
The answer _seems_ to be "Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon", which allows you
to read and write NTFS disks.
However, I cannot find any reference on their site for _formatting_ a disk as
an NTFS volume. I don't want to just assume that "write" also means "format" >> as well. Does anyone know about this? (I can't find a "Contact" link on their
site either.)
Perhaps the answer would be to find a PC-owning friend who'd format the disk >> as NTFS for me. But No that wouldn't work either, because even then I wouldn't
be able to _write_ the files to the disk from my Mac -- I'd have to acquire >> and use MNTFSfMbP to write files.
(Crikey!).
macOS's Disk Utility app. should be able to format an external drive as exFAT.
It should then possibe to read and write to such a formnatted disk in both macOS
and Windows.
I need to format an (external) disk for use on my Sony TV. The TV can
read NTFS volumes, and FAT volumes, but NOT exFAT volumes. This is unfortunate because the programmes we'd like to watch are often bigger
than 4Gb, and FAT will not handle such files -- one needs exFAT, or NTFS.
The answer _seems_ to be "Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon", which allows you
to read and write NTFS disks.
However, I cannot find any reference on their site for _formatting_ a disk as an NTFS volume. I don't want to just assume that "write" also means "format" as well. Does anyone know about this? (I can't find a "Contact" link on their
site either.)
Perhaps the answer would be to find a PC-owning friend who'd format the disk as NTFS for me. But No that wouldn't work either, because even then I wouldn't
be able to _write_ the files to the disk from my Mac -- I'd have to acquire and use MNTFSfMbP to write files.
(Crikey!).
On 2026-06-15, Alan B <alanrichardbarker@gmail.com.invalid> wrote:
On 15 Jun 2026 at 14:11:31 GMT+1, "Another John" <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:
I need to format an (external) disk for use on my Sony TV. The TV can read
NTFS volumes, and FAT volumes, but NOT exFAT volumes. This is unfortunate >>> because the programmes we'd like to watch are often bigger than 4Gb, and FAT
will not handle such files -- one needs exFAT, or NTFS.
The answer _seems_ to be "Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon", which allows you
to read and write NTFS disks.
However, I cannot find any reference on their site for _formatting_ a disk as
an NTFS volume. I don't want to just assume that "write" also means "format"
as well. Does anyone know about this? (I can't find a "Contact" link on their
site either.)
Perhaps the answer would be to find a PC-owning friend who'd format the disk
as NTFS for me. But No that wouldn't work either, because even then I wouldn't
be able to _write_ the files to the disk from my Mac -- I'd have to acquire >>> and use MNTFSfMbP to write files.
(Crikey!).
macOS's Disk Utility app. should be able to format an external drive as exFAT.
It should then possibe to read and write to such a formnatted disk in both >> macOS
and Windows.
I also meant to say I'm surprised the TV cannot handle exFAT but as
Nick points out Paragon will do the biz. There may be some freeware
solutions for NTFS but I've never had the need to search for any!
Another John <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:
I need to format an (external) disk for use on my Sony TV. The TV can
read NTFS volumes, and FAT volumes, but NOT exFAT volumes. This is
unfortunate because the programmes we'd like to watch are often bigger
than 4Gb, and FAT will not handle such files -- one needs exFAT, or NTFS.
The answer _seems_ to be "Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon", which allows you
to read and write NTFS disks.
However, I cannot find any reference on their site for _formatting_ a disk as
an NTFS volume. I don't want to just assume that "write" also means "format" >> as well. Does anyone know about this? (I can't find a "Contact" link on their
site either.)
Perhaps the answer would be to find a PC-owning friend who'd format the disk >> as NTFS for me. But No that wouldn't work either, because even then I wouldn't
be able to _write_ the files to the disk from my Mac -- I'd have to acquire >> and use MNTFSfMbP to write files.
(Crikey!).
You could run a Windows virtual machine and pass through the USB disc to it. That would allow you to format the disc and copy files to it, which you give it access from the Mac's drive via 'shared folders'.
UTM is a decent free virtual machine program - see their 'gallery' for details about setting up a Windows VM:
https://mac.getutm.app/
Alternatively, I've used the 'experimental' NTFS writing integrated into MacOS (mounting via the command line) and it worked ok. But I don't think there is a formatter. Can your TV format its own drives, or is that only
for FAT?
I need to format an (external) disk for use on my Sony TV. The TV can read NTFS volumes, and FAT volumes, but NOT exFAT volumes. This is unfortunate because the programmes we'd like to watch are often bigger than 4Gb, and FAT will not handle such files -- one needs exFAT, or NTFS.
The answer _seems_ to be "Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon", which allows you
to read and write NTFS disks.
However, I cannot find any reference on their site for _formatting_ a disk as an NTFS volume. I don't want to just assume that "write" also means "format" as well. Does anyone know about this? (I can't find a "Contact" link on their
site either.)
Perhaps the answer would be to find a PC-owning friend who'd format the disk as NTFS for me. But No that wouldn't work either, because even then I wouldn't
be able to _write_ the files to the disk from my Mac -- I'd have to acquire and use MNTFSfMbP to write files.
(Crikey!).
TIA for any opinions
Another John
I need to format an (external) disk for use on my Sony TV. The TV can read NTFS volumes, and FAT volumes, but NOT exFAT volumes. This is unfortunate because the programmes we'd like to watch are often bigger than 4Gb, and FAT will not handle such files -- one needs exFAT, or NTFS.
The answer _seems_ to be "Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon", which allows you
to read and write NTFS disks.
However, I cannot find any reference on their site for _formatting_ a disk as an NTFS volume. I don't want to just assume that "write" also means "format" as well. Does anyone know about this? (I can't find a "Contact" link on their site either.)
Perhaps the answer would be to find a PC-owning friend who'd format the disk as NTFS for me. But No that wouldn't work either, because even then I wouldn't
be able to _write_ the files to the disk from my Mac -- I'd have to acquire and use MNTFSfMbP to write files.
(Crikey!).
TIA for any opinions
Another John
On Jun 15, 2026 at 9:11:31rC>AM EDT, "Another John" <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:
I need to format an (external) disk for use on my Sony TV. The TV can read
NTFS volumes, and FAT volumes, but NOT exFAT volumes. This is unfortunate >> because the programmes we'd like to watch are often bigger than 4Gb, and FAT >> will not handle such files -- one needs exFAT, or NTFS.
The answer _seems_ to be "Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon", which allows you
to read and write NTFS disks.
However, I cannot find any reference on their site for _formatting_ a disk as
an NTFS volume. I don't want to just assume that "write" also means "format" >> as well. Does anyone know about this? (I can't find a "Contact" link on their
site either.)
Quotes from <https://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/>:
"Volume Management
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software easily formats, checks integrity and repairs corrupted volumes."
"Write, edit, copy, move and delete files on Microsoft NTFS volumes from your Mac! Fast, seamless, easy to use. Mount, unmount, verify, format or set any of
your Microsoft NTFS volumes as a startup drive."
Looks to me like it can format.
But I have never had need to write to the disk from my iMac. Why do you? Daft question, perhaps, but the answer may open up a whole new world of adventure for me.
On 16 Jun 2026 at 08:02:18 BST, "Old John" <watcombeman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
But I have never had need to write to the disk from my iMac. Why do you? Daft
question, perhaps, but the answer may open up a whole new world of adventure >> for me.
My son (now back in Canada) brought us some TV programmes to watch (among them
Severance, and Poker Face if you're interested).
He had them on an NTFS disk - he could therefore copy them (140GB) to my iMac,
as a place to hold them -- because Sequoia can read NTFS, although not write to it.
I then needed to write those files to a disk that I can plug into our Sony TV (vintage 2018). The TV can read NTFS disks, or FAT disks, but NOT exFAT disks.
(chart at https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00175762 ).
Although I can write FAT on the MAC, FAT cannot handle files larger than 4GB -- and quite a few of the episodes are larger than 4GB.
This saga itself is a bit like an episode of Severance...
I looked up Severance. Weird!
On 17 Jun 2026 at 10:05:04 BST, "Old John" <watcombeman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
I looked up Severance. Weird!
Completely. A bit like an unworldly "Twin Peaks" - unworldly because at least in TP you were constantly surprised/shocked by stuff happening in a world that
you could relate to.
Nonetheless, we have developed a sort of addiction, and before you ask "How? If you have this labyrinthine mess with disk formats / TV capabilities?" : because the first few episodes are under 4GB, and therefore we could watch them off a FAT USB stick in the TV; we watched the next 3 direct off my 27" iMac. Which I had to lug around, and that is a pain, hence my interest, now, in "Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon", which I've now downloaded and am about
to trial. !
</OT>
"Thanks for asking" :-D
On 17 Jun 2026 at 10:05:04 BST, "Old John" <watcombeman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
I looked up Severance. Weird!
<OT>
Completely. A bit like an unworldly "Twin Peaks" - unworldly because at least >in TP you were constantly surprised/shocked by stuff happening in a world that >you could relate to.
Nonetheless, we have developed a sort of addiction, and before you ask "How? >If you have this labyrinthine mess with disk formats / TV capabilities?" : >because the first few episodes are under 4GB, and therefore we could watch >them off a FAT USB stick in the TV; we watched the next 3 direct off my 27" >iMac. Which I had to lug around, and that is a pain, hence my interest, now, >in "Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon", which I've now downloaded and am about >to trial. !
</OT>--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
"Thanks for asking" :-D
On 16 Jun 2026 at 08:02:18 BST, "Old John" <watcombeman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
But I have never had need to write to the disk from my iMac. Why do you? Daft
question, perhaps, but the answer may open up a whole new world of adventure >> for me.
My son (now back in Canada) brought us some TV programmes to watch (among them
Severance, and Poker Face if you're interested).
He had them on an NTFS disk - he could therefore copy them (140GB) to my iMac,
as a place to hold them -- because Sequoia can read NTFS, although not write to it.
I then needed to write those files to a disk that I can plug into our Sony TV (vintage 2018). The TV can read NTFS disks, or FAT disks, but NOT exFAT disks.
(chart at https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00175762 ).
Although I can write FAT on the MAC, FAT cannot handle files larger than 4GB -- and quite a few of the episodes are larger than 4GB.
This saga itself is a bit like an episode of Severance...
On 16 Jun 2026 at 08:02:18 BST, "Old John" <watcombeman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
But I have never had need to write to the disk from my iMac. Why do you? Daft
question, perhaps, but the answer may open up a whole new world of adventure >> for me.
My son (now back in Canada) brought us some TV programmes to watch (among them
Severance, and Poker Face if you're interested).
He had them on an NTFS disk - he could therefore copy them (140GB) to my iMac,
as a place to hold them -- because Sequoia can read NTFS, although not write to it.
I then needed to write those files to a disk that I can plug into our Sony TV (vintage 2018). The TV can read NTFS disks, or FAT disks, but NOT exFAT disks.
(chart at https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00175762 ).
Although I can write FAT on the MAC, FAT cannot handle files larger than 4GB -- and quite a few of the episodes are larger than 4GB.
This saga itself is a bit like an episode of Severance...
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