How do I format a new external HD ? WD 1 Terabite

I have filled my LaCie that was set up on time machine and now I would like to upgrade to a new Western Digital powered external. But I have no idea how to go about it. I plugged it into the laptop and opened time machine and it did not see the WD. I went to disk utility and it found WD but it did not show on the desktop. I suspect I need to format it. Or something. Can anyone out there help me?

Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger or Leopard.)
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (only required for Intel Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
4. 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.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

Similar Messages

How do I format a new external Hard drive for Mac?

Simple question I know for many of you out there but I could do with some advice as I have never done this before. I would like to buy a new external hard drive to store my music and photos on. I will get one with firewire and usb2 connectivity.Could someone walk me through the steps needed to format and prepare a hard drive for use with my Macbook (if it is not already Mac formatted). Will any brand of hard drive work with Mac or are some better than others?

In addition to what Templeto Peck said, make sure that you select the formating to be OSX Extended.
As far as the best esternal drive, type into the "Search Discussion" box: Best external hard drive. This will bring you to several previouslly posted threads that discuss quite thoroughly your question. The following is extracted from one thread:
The best drives are those that use the Oxford 911 chipset. I like the Mercury Elite Pro drives from OWC, but there are plenty of others that use the same chipset.

How can I format my new blank HDD that I just install ?

How can I format my new blank HDD that I just install ?

You will need to boot from another source: a bootable clone, your old internal in an external enclosure, or your install disk.

How do I get my new external hdd to back up my iPhoto library that is on another external hdd?

How do I get my new external hard drive (Apollo Expert) to back up my iPhoto library that is on another external hard drive (Apollo M100)?

What backup software are you using? Assuming TimeMachine then in the TM preferences ==> options make sure the EHD is not in the excluded list
For other software look in the manual or contact support for that software
LN

New to mac. While transferring files from old computer to mac I burnt out a brand new flash drive. How do I format a new flash drive so that it will let me transfer stuff from mac to pc or vise versa??

New to mac. While transferring files from old computer to mac I burnt out a brand new flash drive. How do I format a new flash drive so that it will let me transfer stuff from mac to pc or vise versa??

"guess no one can help me. thanks anyway have a great night everyone"
Some of us do find time to sleep.

I need to format a new external drive, then need to copy old external to new external

I need to format a new external drive, then need to copy old external to new external

Use the Disk Utility in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder to erase the new drive. If the old external drive doesn't contain a bootable Mac OS X system or a Time Machine backup, you can just drag its contents to the new drive. If it does, use software such as Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper.
(69605)

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

Formatting my new external HD

Hey guys,
I just received my OWC Mercury Elite Pro 500 GB and I need to format it. I'm not really good with the technical stuff on a computer so, please be easy on me.
1) I got the external HD because, I want to move my music, photos, and docs off my computers (both Mac and PC). I'm doing so that I can sell/"get rid" of my computers and get new ones.
2)I want to be able to use my HD on both Macs and PC interchangeably.
3) I'm in the US right now but, I go to school in the UK. My Mac is back in the UK, I'm on my PC/laptop right now.
I know that if I format by HD to FAT32 I can use the HD on both Macs and PCs interchangeably, but the downside with FAT32 is that there is only a 4GB per file limit - Is my info correct? - As a result of some searching, I've come to the conclusion that I would be better off to partition. My questions are:
a)I'm assuming that I can format the partitions with different formats, NFTS for PC (Is this the best format for PC?), but what format do I use for my Mac partition?
b)I was told it's better to format the HD on my Mac, since I don't have my Mac with me (see above), is this true? if not, how do I format the HD on my PC?
I know this is a mac forum, but any help with PC would be greatly appreciated!
Sorry, for the long post.
Thanks!

I haven't tried opening a file on an NTFS volume.
Just so we're on the same page, you're saying that I can copy a file, ex.pic, docs, and music, saved on a NFTS on to my Mac and work on it?
Yes.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304940
"NTFS is a read-only disk format for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. As a workaround you can copy the data from the NTFS volume to an HFS+ volume"
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75320
"Mac OS X 10.3 and 10.4 work with local NTFS-formatted volumes. The volume will be read-only."
Also, see this -> http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050521110452194&lsrc=osxh

How do I format my new SSD and get my computer to read it?

I installed a new Samsung SSD with SATA III PCIe connector in my 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 2.66Ghz today.
It's showing up in Disk Utility as being there, but it says it's unformatted, and I can't access it from the desktop.
How to I get the computer to register it in Disk Utility?
Thanks.

twistiejoe wrote:
Sorry I didn't explain properly - it IS showing up in Disk Utility.
How do I format the drive and get it to show up on the DESKTOP.
Thanks.
Since it is showing up in Disk Utility, try selecting it, then clicking the Partition button, choosing GUID partition table as an Option and Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the format.

How do I format a new hard drive?

how do I format a hard disk drive from windows (ntsf) to mac os?

Launch the Disk Utility application. Select the icon of the drive -- it will usually be labeled with the manufacturer's name and the capacity. Select the "Partition" tab. From the menu labeled "Partition Layout," select "1 partition." From the Format menu, select "Mac OS X Extended (Journaled)." Click "Apply."
This operation will destroy all previously existing data on the drive.

How do I format a new lacie external drive to work on a mac and pc?

i have a new lacie external drive. I want to partition it into 2 parts, one to use in Macs and the other in PCs.
How do I do this in Disk Utility?
thanks!

Click on the entire drive in the Disk Utility's sidebar, then on the Partition tab, and set it up. Format one partition as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and the other as MS-DOS.
(84527)

I am trying to format a new external hard drive. It is attached via a USB 2.0 docking station. It does not show up in Disk Utility or Terminal, but does show up in System Profiler. How can I get my MacBook Pro to recognise it?

I need help trying to format an external hard drive. My Mac won't recognise it anywhere other than System Profiler.

The problem is that it is a Western Digital 3.5 inch internal hard drive housed inside a hard drive caddy. So the only way to connect it to my computer is through a dock.

Mac Pro: How do I format a new hard drive?

Hello,
About to open and install a new Samsung 3.5" SATA internal hard drive into slot 2. This drive will only be used for audio and I was told to format the drive in Mac OS Extended with journaling disabled and a single partition.
I am not quite sure how to do this, and since I am already suffering from the frequent computer crashing firewire debacle, I want to make sure that I get this right.
So, any advice before I start this next project would be extremely helpful. I simply can not afford any more problems.
Thanks!
-delton

Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder. If you need to reformat your startup volume, then you must boot from your OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger or Leopard.)
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (only required for Intel Macs) then click on the OK button. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended. Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
4. 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.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
Steps 4-6 are optional but should be used on a drive that has never been formatted before, if the format type is not Mac OS Extended, if the partition scheme has been changed, or if a different operating system (not OS X) has been installed on the drive.

How do I set up new external drive?

I have bought a new 750 GB external hard drive to use on my new MacBook.
I want to use it partly as a back-up using Time Machine but also for storing video during editing.
However, before puting it to that use, I want to use the drive to transfer selected folders from my old, soon to be sold, MacBook onto the new one.
Do I format the drive to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) before transferring my folders?
Do I need to be involved in partition or RAID, and if so, at what stage?
How do I get data backed-up with Time Machine to be separate from video for editing?

john charnley wrote:
Disc utility gives me 4 choices of format for Mac OS. Which one do you recommend?
MAC OS Extended Journaled
Also, what size drive do you suggest for use with iMovie video editing?
If you mean a separate drive then get the largest you can, if you mean how much space to set aside on your TM drive I repeat that I do not recommend that.
Your TM drive should be 2 to 5 times the size of your main drive, now how much does that leave for other tasks.

How do I use my new External Hard Drive on my Macbook?!?

I recently bought an external hard drive for my PC/Macbooks and have run into a little problem. To make a long story short, I reformatted the external hard drive in Window's XP (NFIT Format, not FAT) because that's the only way it would recognize the drive. After doing so, i tried hooking up the drive to my macbook. The macbook recognizes it, however, it won't allow me to modify the drive at all (add or remove files to/from the macbook). Does anybody know how I can use the harddrive on my macbook?!?! Any help is appreciated.

You need to use FAT or install this driver on the MacBook.
(41717)

How do I format a new external HD ? WD 1 Terabite

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