Format my mini hard drive

trying to format my mini hard drive, but my disk utility does not have ms dos option - need to be able to transfer files mac to windows. any ideas? the hard drive is Diamond Digital Mobile Storage 4GB MD100, N623, made by www.Mitsubishi Electric.com.au
cheers

Hi Joseph,
Welcome to Apple discussions.
I presume you are trying to format an external drive.
Open Disk Utility, select the Mitsubishi drive, select Erase, and where it says Volume Format open the selection and choose MS-DOS File System.
*If you do not see MS-DOS listed in that window then that is because the disk is already formatted as MS-DOS.*
So without formatting if it is already, see if it transfers a Mac OS X readable file like a .jpg image file from your windows machine to the external drive, and then see if the Mac can read that file.

Similar Messages

Is there any way to write-enable an NTFS-format WD external Hard Drive ?

I have a WD Elements external HD unit, 1TB previously formatted NTFS under Windows XP on a PC. I would like to use this HD unit to both read and write data using both the Windows PC and a MacBook Pro. But when connected to the MacBook Pro (USB), the HD unit shows up as Read Only.
Is there a way to write-enable the HD unit without losing, or having to backup/restore, the mass of data already saved there ?
I have tried installing NTFS-G3 on the MBP, as suggested elsewhere. Having done so, when I "get information" about the WD unit, the disc format shows as "Windows NT File System (NTFS)" and not NTFS-G3 as expected. Ran chkdsk on the WD under Windows to iron out any problems in the disc's file system. It ran for several hours before completing successfully, but there was no change at all - the unit is still read-only after re-connecting to the MBP.
Can anyone help out please?

Why would you expect it to say NTFS-3G? NTFS-3G is just a program that translates the NTFS to something the Mac OS can deal with. It doesn't change the format of the hard drive. The drive is formatted with the New Technology File System (NTFS), not the NTFS-3G file system.
Were you not able to write to the drive with NTFS-3G installed? Did you install the free version? If so, did you install MacFuse, also? It is required for the free version of NTFS-3G.
Edit:
I just plugged in an NTFS drive and I'm guessing what you were looking for was something to indicate what was doing the translation. On mine I get, "Windows NT File System (Tuxera)." So, I think I understand what you meant before. My guess is as I stated above. Make sure you also have MacFuse installed if you are using the free version of NTFS-3G.
Message was edited by: Barney-15E

Which format for external hard drive to use with time machine backup and connect to windows laptop?

Hi! I have an external hard drive on which I have transferred my iTunes library (just mine - not others). I have also a folder containing just films (some but not all of which are in iTunes too) Everything has been working just fine until yesterday I noticed that Time Machine was not including the external hard drive in back up as it wasn't formatted. So I have moved everything back to the Mac hard drive and and ready to format the external hard drive - but understand that if I do the contents cannot be opened from a windows laptop ... is that right? Is there are format I could choose that would allow Time Machine to back up and allow Windows to open as well (the idea being that I take the external hard drive with me on holidays etc!!) Many thanks for any advice.

ok - I understand. I have managed so far to format the drive (on windows) to exFAT file system - which apparently works with both Windows and Mac - but you're correct - it will not be included in time machine backup as I have checked the back up files and Samsung is not showing. Reckon I'm onto having to buy yet another portable hard drive just for windows - or of course buy myself a new mac book!! Can I ask you please - does the drive have to be clear of everything before I change the format - or can I change it with the files still in there? Also, got any quick ways duplicating the files onto another External Hard drive (for use on the windows laptop) At the moment the files are taking 2/3 hours + to copy over! Thank you!

Wndr4700 media router formatting hfs internal hard drive

Recently switched over to all macs in our house. I was thinking about getting a Netgear Wmdr4700 instead of a time capsule. The router utility can only format hard drives as ext4 which from what I've read is not read/write compatible with macs without additional software. However the router supports and recognizes pre formatted hfs+, or hfs+ journaled drives. Any ideas on how I can format an internal hard drive with a Mac mini or MacBook Air before installing it in the router? Mabye I'm missing something...

Hello,
here is some info to help you out.
time machine will work perfectly fine with ext4 file system this is the default file system for the unit, i have have other netgear NAS devices with ext4 and btrfs and they also work fine with time machine. but if you so desire...
to format the drive with HFS+ you would need to do this via USB sata enclosure attached to mac mini or macbook air they cost about $20-30 the other option is if you know anyone with older mac pro (tower) they could format if for you or take it a place that repairs computers and they should be able to do this in just a few mins if they have a mac around, makes sure you create only 1 partition, GUID and choose mac osx entended journaled. make sure the wndr4700 firmware is updated first...ver 1.0.0.52 is the latest...then add newly formatted HFS+ drive turn back on and wait until unit shows green HD lights up on front. then follow instuctions to backup..my other advice is to buy an external 2.5 inch USB 3 drive as a secondary backup for your macs using time machine as well attaching it to your macs once a month (dont attach it to the netgear, even though you could), for backup...1 drive will work for several macs, buy according to size needed, backup once a month to this as well and then hide drive in your sock drawer, 2 backups are better than 1, good luck.
once your backups are all done, upgrade all your MACs to mavericks for free!!!!

Upgrade G4 Mac mini hard drive

Hi I have inherited a G4 Mac mini with 40gb hard drive which I want to upgrade to 160gb. I do not have the original Tiger install DVDs and I am using it with a windows keyboard and mouse for the moment. I have created a bootable backup of the current hard drive using Super Duper and have saved it on an external USB drive, I have installed the new 160gb hard drive and would like to boot from the external drive and reinstall what was on the old drive onto the new drive. Is this possible? If not how can I install the new hard drive without the original DVDs or a firewire external drive? Thanks, Richard

Unfortunately, G4 Minis cannot boot from a usb external drive.
Your best bet would be to find another Mac and connect your Mini to it via Firewire Target Disk Mode. This would make the internal drive of the Mini available as a drive on the other Mac. Then you could use DiskUtility and SuperDuper! from the other mac to format the Mini's drive and copy the clone to the Mini.
The only thing I'm not sure of, is whether Firewire Target Disk Mode will work with an unformatted drive.

How do i format an external hard drive for use on both windows and mac book air?

how do i format an external hard drive for use on both windows pc and mac book air?

Use exFAT on the PC.
(71374)

I accidentally formatted my portable hard drive when setting it up for time machine. Is there any way for me to get back my lost files?

I have an external hard drive of the brand Western Digital.
Before I got my iMac I moved a lot of my important files from my PC to the hard drive and today I went on and connected it to my iMac to move my files over to it.
When it had connected a window popped up that asked if I wanted to use this hard drive with the program Time Machine and create backups. Without thinking it trough enough and reading the warning properly (I'm stupid I know) I clicked "yes". I then realised how stupid it was and cancelled the formatting of the hard drive. But somehow the program still managed to delete all my important files and can't find any way to get them back. Neither can I connect the hard drive to my PC anymore so I can't check if the files are still there (which I doubt they are since I can't see them on my iMac either).
And now I wonder: is there any way for me to get back my lost files or are they lost forever?
Thank you in advance!
//Gina

A data recovery specialist or some data recovery programs should be able to help. Most format simply rewrite the directory tree saying no files are on this disk. The bits that represent the files are still flipped appropreiately so they still exists, you just don't have the location info to get at them. Secure formats and erases rewrite each bit to a zero or 1 or random so the data is then truely gone. This type of format takes a long time to complete.
I'm not making a recomendation of a particular program but here is one company that does what you ask:
http://www.remosoftware.com/mac-recovery The cost is pretty high but I'm sure they don't sell many copies and need to cover their development costs.
Good luck and don't write anything on the freshly formatted disk until you decide what to do.

My mac mini hard drive is failing. I am no longer under warranty. Do you know how much it cost to have Apple replace the hard drive? or How I can replace it myself?

MY mac mini hard drive is failing. I am no longer under warranty. Do you know how much it cost to have Apple replace the hard drive? or How I can replace it myself?

You can do it yourself. I did on my 2009 Mini
http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini
Also, this place sells HSDs and has install videos.
http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/

Failed formatting of new hard drive

I installed a new Caviar SE 120Gbyte SATA II hard drive in my PowerMacG5. This will serve as a back-up to the start-up HD. When I started up the computer, it was not recognized. I used the "erase" and "partition" options in disk utility to no avail ("error" on each attempt). Any clues as to why I cannot format the second hard drive?
Thanks,
Joe

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/resources/DriveCompatibilityguide.asp

How to format an external hard drive for vista and snow leopard?

I want to format an external hard drive to attach to Airport Extreme base station to us with Snow Leopard and a PC with Vista. What format should I use for read/write access for both?

I use NTFS for my external drives being used on both Macs and Windows. To get the Mac to write to NTFS, you need a separate program. I use Paragon for Mac software. It works behind the scenes. There are also some free things that do the same thing but I found them cranky and unreliable. YMMV.
Windows can not read any of the Mac disk formats without additional software.. FAT32 is fine but is extremely limited.
For the last year, I have had absolutely no problems on any computer, Mac or Windows.

Is it possible to format an external hard drive on my mac?

I purchased a portable external hard drive to back up my former pc in the hopes of using it on my mac. Obviously, I did not research this seeing now that I can integrate my files and photos from my pc to my mac. It appears possible to format the external hard drive to my mac os, which should be done prior to downloading files from my pc to the hard drive. Has anyone dealt with this or am I the only idiot that purchased the external hard drive thinking that was the thing to do before my pc dies completely?

A HD formatted in EXFAT will transfer data between both PC and Mac.
However dont make the titanic error most do in having merely a single external HD backup of your data, thats a tragedy waiting to happen.
HD are cheap as dirt.
Ideal situation is 3 HD , 1 for Mac backups, 1 for data archives stored away safely and updated as needed / often.
and a 3rd HD in Exfat for data transfers (or a thumb drive for the same thing to save $$)

How do i format a new hard drive without using an external drive

My hard drive crashed so i bought a new hard drive and have already placed it inside the macbook pro. i tried to use my install disks but nothing happens. i realized that i never formatted the new hard drive and started researching. i can not use my old hard drive since it is damaged so is there a way to format the new drive without using the old drive or an external hard drive?

Formatting, Partitioning Erasing a Hard Disk Drive
Warning! This procedure will destroy all data on your Hard Disk Drive. Be sure you have an up-to-date, tested backup of at least your Users folder and any third party applications you do not want to re-install before attempting this procedure.
• With compute rshut down insert install disk in optical drive.
• Hit Power buttonand immediately after chime hold down the "C" key.
• Select language
• Go to the Utilities menu and launch Disk Utility.
• Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.
• Select Partition tab in main panel. (You are about to create asingle partition volume.)
• Click on Options button
• Select GUID Partition Table(Intel Macs)
• Click OK
• Select number of partition in pull-down menu above Volumediagram.
(Note 1: One partition is normally preferable for an internalHDD.)
• Type in name in Name field (usually Macintosh HD)
• Select Volume Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
• Click Partition button at bottom of panel.
• Select Erase tab
• Select the sub-volume (indented) under Manufacturer ID (usuallyMacintosh HD).
• Check to be sure your Volume Name and Volume Format are correct.
• Click Erase button
• Quit Disk Utility.
Open installer and begin installation process.
cornelius

I want to format my macintosh hard drive

To format macbook pro hard drive, we need to press power button + option button when startup but when i do so I dont see recovery hd coming. instead i only see macintosh hd. im using OS X Yosemite 10.10.1

BalaTheBalaji wrote:
I have tried that too. with command + r you can't erase hard drive or format. Only you can recover account
You should be able to erase the Macintosh HD from the Yosemite Recovery HD (Command+R). Should get you into the OS X Utilities Menu. With Disk Utility as one of fhe 4 options.
Inside Disk Utility, you should see 2 Macintosh HD entries. The 2nd (or indented) one is the one you should be able to select and erase.
If possible, a screen shot of what you are seeing when you select the 2nd Macintosh HD entry in Disk Utility might help us.

I want to erase my mini hard drive. where do I get a new operating software

I want to erase my mini hard drive. Where do I get a new operating software to reinstall on the wiped hard drive?

If you have Lion or later boot to the Recovery partition and reinstall the OS
OS X: About OS X Recovery
Otherwise you have to boot from your install disk and reinstall the OS.

How can i format my external hard drive to write files from Mac without loosing the files that i alredy have on my external hard when i used it with windows?

How can i format my external hard drive to write files from Mac without loosing the files that i alredy have on my external hard when i used it with windows?
I have been using Windows to write files to my 1TB WD external hard drive and I do not want to format to loose the files capacity of around 500GB
Someone, Please help

Hi Allen,
Is there any way to store the back up to Mac and restore after formating?

Format my mini hard drive

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for