Format an External HDD - Cannot see DOS ( Fat 32 )

I have an empty My Book external HDD, which is formatted in Mac OS extended , and I would like to format it to MS - DOS ( Fat 32 ) to be able to also use it on a PC ,ive looked in Disk Utility ( Erase ) and cannot see an option to format to MS - DOS ( Fat 32 ) , where should I be looking please ..?

Select the drive (not the volume indented below it), click the "Partition" tab, set "Volume Scheme" to "1 Partition", click "Options", select "Master Boot Record", click "OK", set "Format" to "MS-DOS (FAT)", enter a volume name, then click "Apply".

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  • Should I format my external drive to MS-DOS (FAT) or ExFAT ??

    Hi ,
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    FAT:
    Works natively with all Macs & PCs, but can't handle files larger than 4GB.
    exFAT:
    Works with large files, but requires OS X 10.6.6 or later, & Vista SP1 or Windows 7 or later. Don't use your Mac to format exFAT, as Windows machines won't be able to use the drive. Must be done on a PC.

  • How to format external drive as MS-DOS (FAT)

    How do I format the external drive as MS-DOS (FAT)?
    I followed the instructions and have Disk Utility open for the external drive. Then > Erase > changed format from Mac OS to ExFAT and did the same with the RAID tab.  But this does not change the Format from Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
    Thanks in advance for any advice..........It's never easy is it?

    biddymon wrote:
    Snip snip...........and I appreciate your sense of humor.  Unfortunately mine is in the sleep mode at this stage of the game.
    (3) Boot Camp 4.  downloaded to 16-GB flash drive, which is recognized in Windows but will not install due to following prompt: "The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running.  Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x-64 (64-bit) version of this program, and then contact the software publisher."  This flash drive is formatted as MS-DOS (FAT), although ExFAT was an alternative.
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    Even better, here is a link to a page with all the versions, if you click the version name a description will be displayed, find the correct one for your Mac and version of Windows.
    Finally this page contains a model by model breakdown of which version of Windows will run on which model of Mac.

  • I have tried to format my HDD from MS-DOS fat to MAC OS Extended (jurnaled) but after formating turns to the same MS-DOS FAT format why?

    I have tried to format my HDD from MS-DOS fat to MAC OS Extended via disk utility but after formating turns to the same MS-DOS FAT format why?my current OS is 10.5

    You will need to perform an Internet Recovery or be able to boot the computer using a Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later DVD. For the former:
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    After a fairly long period of time - 15 minutes or more - the recovery screen will appear. Select Disk Utility from the main menu, and click on the Continue button.
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    3. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
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  • HELP!!! i formated a external hdd to MAC os Extended file system

    HELP!!! i formated a external hdd to MAC os Extended file system in disk utility and now i need it formated back to work on pc. i have tried ms-dos file system under the erase tab and it doesnt work, on my pc all it has under my computer is black, but if you go down by the time you can "safely remove hardware" but it dosent give a drive location (ex: e:/)....
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    Use the PC to reformat the drive.

  • External HD in MS DOS FAT and partitions in Mac OS X extended

    Hi,
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    but the 2 partitions are set up in Mac OSX extended: one for TM in extended journaled, the other partition in extended.
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    Tom

    this screenshot does not contradict anything. it just says that if you use the erase tab on the whole drive with the currently selected erase settings it will erase the whole drive and reformat it to a single partition formatted FAT. but what i do see at the bottom of this screenshot is that the partition scheme is set to MBR. that's bad if you ever want to use this drive for TM or bootable backups. the partition scheme should be GUID for that. so if you ever want to use the drive for that purpose you should repartition it with GUID partition scheme. that can be done using that partition tab. set the number of partitions to what you want (but not "current"), click on "options" and set the scheme to GUID. note that this will wipe the whole drive.

  • I have a new MBAir 2013 13", and I had a MBPro 2010 13". I've installed iPhoto 9.4.3 but now iPhoto says my library (stored on an external HDD) cannot be read until I update the software because it's made with an updated iPhoto... but it IS updated!

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    Thank you Eldorado for your clear advice. As I said I am on hols here and have left my USB external drive at home so it??s impossible to do what you say. Before I embark on your 2nd instruction I would like to say that the warning from the recovery disk is so frightening. It says if the HDD is reformatted I will lose everything including any additional\ software installed which to me means such additional software will not be made good.
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    Helmut

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    Mekhaiia wrote:
    is there a easy way to format my external hdd.
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    Many thanks.

    sure no problem asking questions, thats the whole point of a forum.
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    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/314463
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