
- #How to format external drive on mac for windows 10 how to#
- #How to format external drive on mac for windows 10 for mac#
- #How to format external drive on mac for windows 10 mac os#
- #How to format external drive on mac for windows 10 driver#
- #How to format external drive on mac for windows 10 software#
It is also known as Window's default file system. NTFS (New Technology File System): NTFS is developed by Microsoft, started with Windows NT 3.0.The most popular file systems are as discussed below: Various operating systems like Mac, Windows, Linux and OS X have different file systems to organize and store digital information. File systems are the key parts of translation from the physical data recording on a hard drive to the files that are read by operating systems only. Remember once all the data get formatted, it will not be recovered at any cost.īefore proceeding to format external hard drive, you need to know about file systems which are particularly associated with the operating systems. If you have documents, music, photos saved elsewhere on computer then make sure you have copied all stuff before formatting.
#How to format external drive on mac for windows 10 software#
Most external hard devices come with backup software that will make process much easier to do. Technically, it is the process of writing a new directory structure which allows the documents and files to be overwritten and create space for the new data.īefore formatting external hard drives, backup all important data that you are going to format. Low level formatting is the first process of wiping out data and existing files in the hard disk devices and at the high level, a new file system is generated.
#How to format external drive on mac for windows 10 how to#
Formatting may take few hours to wipe out the existing data, but the process can be hassle-free if you get to know about stepwise instructions of how to format an external hard drive. Formatting can be performed at two stages: low level and high level process. What is External Hard Drive Formatting Process?įormatting external hard drives is a process of deleting or erasing the memory chunks to avail the space for new data. If you are looking for new operating system or selling your old computers or laptops, then you need to set up an external hard drive for backups by erasing and formatting the existing data in the storage devices. These are attached to systems through FireWire or USB connection or wirelessly to transfer data from the internal drive to hard disk drives.

Maybe bootcamp only likes MBR partitions ~ hope this solves your issue.Part 1 Formatting a Hard Drive and File System Process:Įxternal hard drives are the storage devices used to store and retrieve digital information, personal and official data like files, documents and other stuff. Then finally apply the settings and let the drive partition. At the bottom click options and select "Master Boot Record". as you did before ~ OS X Extended for Time Machine, ExFAT or Free space for Windows. Go into Disk Utility, select the external drive and click on the partition tab. Since you only used Time Machine so far and Windows couldn't even access the drive I assume you have no problem with formatting the drive again losing all data currently stored on it? Maybe it's a derp from bootcamp? Anyway, the options you were reading up on are most likely the solution to your problem. I partitioned a drive with one OS X Extended partition, one ExFAT using the GUID partition scheme and Windows detected the ExFAT partition right away. I am a bit surprised you are having issues because your iMac and OS X version suggests that the drive is most likely formatted using the GUID/GPT partition scheme which Windows 7 should have no issues with reading.Īctually, being curious I just tested it with Lion and Windows 7 (no bootcamp): What do I need to do in order for Windows to see the necessary partition?īeen reading up on the different "options" for the partitions i.e. Just shows the entire ext HD unallocated. I ran Disk Management and saw the ext HD listed but it did not show any partitions. Once Windows 7 started I opened up My Computer and I did not see the ext HD listed. I did not eject and unplug the ext HD before restarting, not sure if it played into my problem or not but thought I'd mention.
#How to format external drive on mac for windows 10 mac os#
Named the top partition Mac and chose the format Mac OS Extended (Journaled), named the bottom Windows and chose the format NTSF.Īfter running Time Machine on the Mac partition I restarted the iMac to Windows 7. Used Disk Utility to partition the ext HD 50/50.
#How to format external drive on mac for windows 10 for mac#
I looked up about the different HD formats for Mac and Windows.
#How to format external drive on mac for windows 10 driver#
Time Machine does not work with the Paragon driver the ext HD came with so I decided to partition it into two parts one for Mac, the other for Windows. Bought a Seagate Backup Plus external USB HD for extra space for games on the Windows 7 end and Time Machine for her iMac. We partitioned her HD to run bootcamp with Windows 7 to play some games.

My wife has an iMac with OS X Lion on it.
