Can different partitions have different formatting?

[mkraft]

Can different formatting co-exist on the same physical HD (i.e., in different partitions)?

If not, does that mean that files saved in a Windows virtualization environment can't be backed up to the same HD that a SD backup is stored on (because the Windows files need to be stored on a FAT-32 volume)?

Thanks.

[dnanian]

Yes, different format particions can exist on teh same HD, but not different "partition schemes" (i.e. a GUID partitioned drive cannot also be APM Partitioned).

[mkraft]

Yes, different format particions can exist on teh same HD, but not different "partition schemes" (i.e. a GUID partitioned drive cannot also be APM Partitioned).

I should have worded my question differently. I'd already been made aware (by another poster here) that different partitions can have different formatting, but was wondering whether that is specifically relevant to backing up files created in a Windows virtualization environment.

IOW, can those files be backed up to a disk that is entirely HFS+-formatted, or should those Windows files be stored on a FAT-32 partition?

Thanks.

[agiabuba]

usually, files created in a VM are contained in the VM's file/drive, that's a normal file on your OSX drive.... this means you can backup your entire VM as you do with other mac files...

[dnanian]

Your VM, in most cases, is stored in a virtual disk, which is a 'bundle' stored on your regular drive, and is backed up with your other files. Please ensure VMWare/Parallels/etc isn't running when you back up, though.