reformat an external hardrive - PC

Joined
Aug 22, 2007
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
1
my PC with xp died so i put its relatively new HD into an external case.

rescued all of the files onto my macbook pro (OS 10.4.10)

found 'disk utility'
decided to erase to zeros

but then I couldn't find a format option.

but after the erase - the HD was ready to receive files from the mac.

i just want to make sure i did everything right
and didn't miss a step.

because i now want to use the external hard drive as an efficient - and reliable back up source.

optimized for a mac environment

thanks
 
OP
4
Joined
Aug 22, 2007
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
1
by default it was on Mac Os Extended (Journaled)

but now i notice there are also:
Mac Os Extended
Mac Os Extended (case sensitive)
Mac Os Extended (case sensitive & Journaled)

would any of these have been better

thanks
 
M

MacHeadCase

Guest
Welcome to Mac-Forums, 4now.

The default is best and will meet your needs unless you want to share the disk with a WinBox. If that is the case, FAT32 would be best because the Mac can only read (not write to) an NTFS hard drive.
 
OP
4
Joined
Aug 22, 2007
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
1
I thought about sharing with a WinBox

but why - now that life is so much easier :)

thanks for the welcome
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2004
Messages
12,455
Reaction score
604
Points
113
Location
PA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook
And just so you know, to format a drive for FAT32 in Disk Utility make sure you choose the option "MS-DOS File System".
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top