usb hard drive formatting/capacity issue

bastione · bastione #1 (**permalink**)

06-06-2009, 08:20 AM

Dear all,

I decided to format my usb drive because some files created on windows had been locked at it was impossible to get rid of them.
I transfered all my data on another hard drive and started the disk utility to format my drive.
However, my drive being 500GB it only shows 371GB after formating. I guess there around 200GB that have "disappeared". One of the things I know I did is that I deleted some files (that could well have amounted to those 200) and did not bother emptying the bin since I was going to format it. Now that it is formated, impossible to go back to the bin and delete it.

Anyway to COMPLETELY erase the whole disk? It would be too bad, because I need more than those 371 to put all my files back which would mean that I'd have to buy a new drive...

I hope you can help.

Bastien

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

06-06-2009, 12:45 PM

It probably was not necessary to format the drive in the first place - just to get rid of locked files. Files appear locked when a drive has been formatted to NTFS because of permissions and the fact that OS X can only read but not write to NTFS without a third party utility. But you can work around that from OS X. In any event, it's too late for that.....

You need to erase the entire drive from Disk Utility - first making sure that all the partitions on it have been removed. Then format the drive as HFS + or FAT-32 (MS DOS), your choice. That will get back the original capacity of the drive.

Regards.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Parallels and USB Hard Drive	killawattz	Running Windows (or anything else) on your Mac	6	02-24-2009 12:18 AM
Upgrading MacBook hard drive with external USB HD	emtb23	Apple Notebooks	4	12-31-2008 10:34 AM
Hard Drive Install Issue	Laytonx	Apple Notebooks	2	02-02-2007 06:22 PM
External usb hard drive	wicksta	Switcher Hangout	2	04-24-2005 03:29 AM

usb hard drive formatting/capacity issue

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

bastione #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 06, 2009 Posts: 1	06-06-2009, 08:20 AM Dear all, I decided to format my usb drive because some files created on windows had been locked at it was impossible to get rid of them. I transfered all my data on another hard drive and started the disk utility to format my drive. However, my drive being 500GB it only shows 371GB after formating. I guess there around 200GB that have "disappeared". One of the things I know I did is that I deleted some files (that could well have amounted to those 200) and did not bother emptying the bin since I was going to format it. Now that it is formated, impossible to go back to the bin and delete it. Anyway to COMPLETELY erase the whole disk? It would be too bad, because I need more than those 371 to put all my files back which would mean that I'd have to buy a new drive... I hope you can help. Bastien
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,043 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	06-06-2009, 12:45 PM It probably was not necessary to format the drive in the first place - just to get rid of locked files. Files appear locked when a drive has been formatted to NTFS because of permissions and the fact that OS X can only read but not write to NTFS without a third party utility. But you can work around that from OS X. In any event, it's too late for that..... You need to erase the entire drive from Disk Utility - first making sure that all the partitions on it have been removed. Then format the drive as HFS + or FAT-32 (MS DOS), your choice. That will get back the original capacity of the drive. Regards.
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)