KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q101895: Macintosh Files on MS-DOS Disks May Not Work

Article: Q101895
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 3.1 4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbprint kbPrinting
Last Modified: 07-SEP-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copying a Macintosh file from a Windows NT Advanced Server computer
onto an MS-DOS floppy disk may render that Macintosh file unusable.

Macintosh files have two pieces, referred to as the data fork and the
resource fork. NTFS keeps track of both of these forks, thus allowing
Macintosh files to reside undamaged on an NTFS volume.

The standard method for putting Macintosh files on FAT disks is to
split the Macintosh file into its two pieces when the file is copied
to the FAT disk. The two pieces are then put back together when copied
back onto a Macintosh. Because Windows NT Advanced Server Services for
the Macintosh requires an NTFS partition, Windows NT Advanced Server
does not need to split the two forks.

When a Macintosh file is copied from a Windows NT Advanced Server
computer to a FAT disk, the copied file loses the extended attribute
that consisted of the resource fork. When this Macintosh file is used,
it may not work if the Macintosh file needed the resource fork. (As is
the case with an application.)

Additional query words: prodnt 3.10 ntmac pc exchange access

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbprint kbPrinting 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTAdvSerSearch kbWinNTAdvServ310 kbWinNT310Search
Version           : 3.1 4.0

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.