Can you transfer files from a Mac computer to a computer running XP? And if you can how do you open them if they wont open? Thanks..

No, they're two different operating systems.

Yes, you can transfer the files. The only problem you will have is that Windows computers cannot read MAC formatted disks without special software. But, MACs can read PC disks. If you are going to use discs to transfer the files, you can use a PC formatted floppy if you only have a handful of small files to transfer. If you have a lot of files, or big files AND your mac has a CD burner you can copy the files to a CDR, just make sure to check the available options before burning to ensure the disc will be PC compatible. Another option is to network the two computers together. Depending on what kind of setup you have will determine how this would be accomplished. If you have a router with DHCP, put both computers on the same LAN. IF not, you "might" be able to network the two computers with a cross-over cable. Never done that myself though. Anyway, if you can succesfully put the two computers on the same network, allow file sharing on the XP computer and create a folder with read and write priveledges for all users. Then, from the MAC, find the shared folder and copy over the files you want. As for opening the files on a PC, it all depends on wether you have an application that can read those files. For instance a microsoft word file created on a MAC can be opened in Word on a PC. Some file types, such as jpeg or gif images will be no problem at all. The biggest problem you may encounter is that on a mac file extensions are not required. For example a Word document on a MAC may be named 'mydocument'. The MAC "knows" that it is a Word document based upon it's file system. Windows based computers use file extension to "know" what type a file is. So, for the Windows computer to know that the above file was a Word document, it would need to be named 'mydocument.doc'. You would need to rename the file manually for Windows. If you do not rename the file you could still open the file from Word, but you could not double-click on the file to open it since Windows would not know what type of file it is.

If you just need to transfer stuff like MS Word / Excel / text files, etc...it is usually pretty easy. Just use a disk formated on your PC. For example...for a Word file on the MAC...Open it, then Save AS some PC format (e.g. MSWord for Windows) to your A: (same with most other popular programs). Your Same PC programs should open it up fine (might need a little format editing....charts/tabs/etc). HTH

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I think I know what to do..