external USB HDD

[Rottie]

MacRumor website does not answer my post so I will try here....I have external USB HDD formatted with FAT32 and some data on there for Windows OS...whenever I attach it to my MBP the message show up and ask "Do you want to use "HDD" to back up with Time Machine?" I hit "Decide later" button because I am not sure if Time Machine will format and lose some of data on it?

Your help will be great apprecited!

 

[TheStu]

Time Machine needs HFS+ to operate. You could copy the data off of the drive, create a new partition that stays FAT32 (or ideally exFAT if all your Windows machines are Vista or better) and then format the rest of the drive to HFS+ if you want to use Time Machine.

 

[Rottie]

I see...I think I will get another external HDD next week for Time Machine backup..Thank you very much TheSTU