How to create an “hybrid” usb stick?

Question

I was wondering how to make an hybrid USB stick. That means a USB stick that runs under Mac and Windows and displays specific content.

Example:

1. Plug in on Windows: index.html opens. Mac OS X files are invisible.

2. Plug in on Mac: indexMac.html opens. Windows files are invisible.

I know that every USB stick can be read by both platforms. The Apple Mac OS X CD is something which inspired me.

Answer 1

Format the stick as fat32. It should be readable by both systems.

That will give you a seamless data solution, even though fat32 is far from the best file system. Unfortunately, with improved file systems like NTFS or those supported by Macintosh, have incomplete, limited, or no support in the "other" operating system.

If you wanted something more specific, you'd better revise the question.

Answer 2

If you want this HTML-based solution, you can always cheat a bit. You can have it launch an index.html, which uses javascript to find out what OS the system is using, and redirect to mac/index.html or win/index.html

Answer 3

More some "bits" of an answer than a full answer ...

If you format a partition on the key as a MAC fs you cannot view the files under Windows.

A autorun.inf should sort your launching under Windows.

However for the MAC autorunning CDs (or USB in this case ws dropped silently in OSX) see here

So I am not sure if you would be able to do what you are hoping.

Kindness,

D

Answer 4

Partition the USB stick - half HFS+ for the Mac and half NTFS. This SHOULD be readable by both platforms - then you can put on anything you like. A PC will see the NTFS partition, but not HFS+, the Mac will see both but only write to the HFS+.

You can use disk utility on the Mac for the HFS+ bit.

Answer 5

Use A Partition Editor to make an HFS+ and NTFS partition on the drive- the HFS+ will only be visible on the Mac, and the NTFS will only be visible on Windows (Unless you install NTFS-3G on the Mac).