Jun 16,2019 • Filed to: Mac Recovery • Proven solutions
- Formatting A External Hard Drive For Mac And Pc
- How To Format Hard Drive For Mac
- Format Hard Drive For Mac And Pc Allocation Unit Size
- Format Hard Drive For Mac And Pc 2018
- Format Hard Drive For Mac And Pc On Windows 7
We have all learned in school that processor is the brain of the computer, but a brain is incomplete without a place to store data. Hard drives are an important part of a computer, both Mac and PC. They help the Machine store files and folder, keeping our personal and professional files in order so that we can access them whenever we want.
Part 4: How to Format Mac Hard Drive Now we will look at the process of formatting Mac hard drive and it is also as easy as that of Windows. If you don’t know how to format your hard drive on Mac, follow the instructions on the guide given below. Step 1 Turn off your Mac and switch it ON while pressing down on the Command and R keys. Method 3: Format external hard drive for Mac and PC. Want to use external hard drive under both Windows PC and Mac? Scratch 1.4 mac download. In this case, you should consider the hurdle that these operating systems support different filesystems. The default file system in Windows is NTFS, while Mac OS users HFS.
https://eedhnu.weebly.com/game-for-mac-2015.html. However, sometimes we need a clean slate and formatting the hard drive is the option to do so. There are many reasons why you would want to format hard drive for Mac and PC, and there are many ways in which you can do the same. In this article, we are going to discuss both!
Part 1: Why Should You Format Your Mac or PC Hard Drive
There are many reasons why you should consider formatting drive for Mac or PC. We have listed out the most common reason and the advantages associated with doing so.
Clear hard disk data: We keep adding data on to the hard drive, and sometimes, you might lose track of what is stored where! And then, you have files everywhere and they are taking up your precious storage without you knowing their location to delete them. Formatting a hard drive clears all the data on it, giving you back all the storage space.
Virus or malware removal: Virus or malware can create some serious damage to your data and if they have spread wide in your hard drive, then formatting the drive will be the only way to clear them. A complete format of the hard drive will wipe all the data on the drive including the affected files.
Better hard disk health: One of the best ways to ensure the long life of your hard drive is to format it once in a while. This will help the hard drive to clear all the redundant files. it is like a breath of fresh air for a system that is always under load from reading and writing data.
Changing your file system: A hard drive can be formatted in three file systems. These file systems are what helps the hard disk to write information on it. The three most common file systems are – FAT, NTFS, and ExFAT. If you want to change the file systems of a hard disk, you will have no option but to format it in that file format. Hence, formatting your drive for Mac or PC is a way to change the system storage format.
Erasing your partitions or installing a new operating system: You will need to format your hard drive if you need to erase the existing partitions on your hard drive or to install a new operating system. Formatting is always recommended for the fresh new install of the OS.
Part 2: Explaining the 3 most common file formats for Mac and PC
As we discussed, the hard drive for Windows or Mac can be formatted in three different file formats. The file formats are the facilitators that help the computer write data onto the hard drive. Each file format has its own characteristics that we will discuss below. The three most common file formats used in the industry are – FAT, NTFS, and exFAT.
FAT32: FAT or File Allocation Table is a file format that is most commonly used for small data storage system like USB pen drives. The latest version of FAT is called FAT32 and most modern devices that run on FAT uses the FAT32 system. FAT32 cannot transfer a file that is more than 4GB, which is very restrictive according to modern standards and is hence slowly losing its popularity.
NTFS: Another disadvantage of FAT32 is that it cannot create partitions that are larger than 32GB. NTFS is made to overcome the disadvantages of the FAT system and it is the prominent file format used in modern windows computers. MacOS doesn’t support NTFS file format. It can read data in NTFS, however, it is unable to write or change data in NTFS.
exFAT: The exFAT was made to fill in for the shortcomings of FAT32. With removable storage devices getting very high storage limits, FAT32 was no longer a file format that we can use to handle such files. ExFAT supports more than 4GB per file transfer limit, and it is a common file format used in removable USB drives.
Part 3: How to Format Your Windows PC Hard Drive
![Drive Drive](/uploads/1/3/4/3/134318410/134314629.jpg)
Formatting hard drive on Windows is quite an easy task to do and you can do it all by yourself. We have provided a detailed step by step guide on how you can format hard drive on Windows systems below.
Step 1 Click on the Start Button. It is usually located on one of the corners of your desktop.
Step 2 Use the search for Disk Management. You can also find this option in Control Panel.
Step 3 Find the hard disk you want to format, select the hard drive and click Format.
Step 4 You can select the type of file format you want. For Windows, it is always better to use NTFS format. If you want to format external drive for Mac and pc, then you can choose exFAT or NTFS.
Note: You can enable Quick Format if you want the format process to be over quickly. However, it won’t check the drive for errors. This is not an issue if the hard drive is new. If you are formatting a drive that you have using for some time, then unchecking quick format option will let the computer scan for errors on the hard drive. The downside is that it will take a lot of time, maybe even hours.
Part 4: How to Format Mac Hard Drive
Now we will look at the process of formatting Mac hard drive and it is also as easy as that of Windows. If you don’t know how to format your hard drive on Mac, follow the instructions on the guide given below.
Step 1 Turn off your Mac and switch it ON while pressing down on the Command and R keys.
Step 2 Now wait for the Apple logo to appear after which you will be shown the following window. https://eedhnu.weebly.com/blog/software-for-mac.
Step 3 Click on Disk Utility.
Step 4 Download internet explorer for mac 2015. Select the drive you want to erase.
Step 5 Click on the option Erase provided on the top.
There is no option in MacOS that lets you erase Mac hard drive with respect to individual partitions. Make sure that you move all the important files before doing the format.
Part 5: How to Recover Formatted Hard Drive on Mac
You must have noticed that the Mac hard drive format process is not as intuitive as Windows. Now, what if you erase Mac hard drive and realize that you had important files in storage? Or what if you had to format Mac hard drive without getting a chance to move all your important files?
Then the only solution is to use a powerful data recovery software that can scan the hard drive to recover the deleted files. The iSkysoft Data recovery tool is the one preferred by experts and casual users alike because of its powerful tools and the easy to use nature.
iSkysoft Data Recovery for Mac
The perks of iSkysoft Data Recovery Tool
- Internal and external drive support: With iSkysoft, you can use it for data recovery on both internal and external storage devices.
- Windows and Mac support: You can run iSkysoft on both Mac and Windows Machines.
- Multi-file support: The software support media files, office files, and even archive files.
- Trash recovery: Apart from files lost due to formatting, you can recover files from trash.
- Offline support: You can recover files with iskysoft without connecting to the internet.
3,015,629 people have downloaded it
Now let’s see the steps involved in using iSkysoft Data Recovery to recover files from Mac hard drive
Step 1 Download and Install iSkysoft on Mac
Screensaver for mac. Download iSkysoft Data Recovery tool on Mac from the official website. Install the software on your Mac after download.
Step 2 Choose the Recovery option
Launch the iSkysoft toolbox and select the type of recovery option. In our case, choose Formatted Disk Recovery.
Step 3 Select the drive to be scanned
The window will show you the list of internal and external storage devices. Select the drive you want to scan and click on Start.
Step 4 Preview and recover files
iSkysoft will now show you the list of files that it has recovered from the formatted drive. You can preview the files so that you know exactly what you are recovering. After you have made your selection, click on Recover.
Four simple steps and you are done! The iSkysoft toolbox is so simple to use that you will not have a hard time navigating through its options or various features. If you have files that you need to recover from a drive after a format or accidental deletion, then iskysoft is the tool that you can depend.
Part 6: 5 Pro Tips to Get You Started on Formatting Hard Drive on Mac or PC
Formatting hard drive on your PC or Mac is that process that needs a certain amount of care. Rushing into it without keeping some very important details in mind can lead to mistakes or unwanted outcomes. Here are some pro tips that you should keep in mind!
- Backup your files: Before formatting your hard drive, back up your files or move them to an external storage device. This way you don’t have to look for restoring the files in the first place.
- Always use the optimal file format system: Since there are three major file format systems, you can choose between them when formatting your hard drive. However, make sure you are making the right choice. For Windows internal hard drive, the best option is the NTFS. Mac systems use APFS or Apple File System. ExFAT file format is read by both Apple and Microsoft Machine, hence, a good option for external devices.
- Ensure proper connections: Disruptions in the format process is never a good thing for hard disks, and can even lead to permanent damage. Ensure that you have proper connections for the hard drive from your computer’s motherboard.
- Do not cause the hard drive to move: A hard drive has mechanical components in it that can get damaged if the drive experiences a physical shock like sudden movement or fall from a height. Make sure the hard drive is either screwed in place or in an environment where it won’t face any external physical shock
- Defragment hard disk to increase its speed and life: Defragmentation helps the hard drive in gaining more speed and also contributes to its overall lifespan.
Conclusion
Formatting your hard drive on Mac or PC is not a herculean task anymore. Just follow our guide and you can have your storage drive formatted in no time.
If you have formatted your hard drive and it had files that you need, then use the iSkysoft toolbox to easily get the files back! Make sure you keep your drives safe from elements that can damage it. Hope the article helped in solving your queries!
Formatting A External Hard Drive For Mac And Pc
Aug 22,2019 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions
“How to format hard drive for Mac and PC? I want to resell my computers and would like to get rid of my data beforehand, but can’t seem to format my system!”
It doesn’t matter what kind of situation you are in, it is important to learn how to format HDD for Mac and Windows. You might want to resell your system, get rid of something, or simply want to make more free space on it.
While it might sound complicated, both Mac and Windows give us dedicated features to manage our disk space. You can use it to manage your storage, merge partitions, and even do a disk format for Mac and PC. In this post, we will cover dedicated solutions on how to format your hard drive in Mac and PC. https://yolaallthings.weebly.com/home/epic-games-launcher-mac-download.
Part 1. Why should you consider formatting your hard drive?
You might already know the consequences of formatting a hard drive. It will erase all the data stored in it, making it empty in one go. Therefore, before you format Mac/PC drive, make sure that you have taken a backup of your important data. Once it is done, you can do hard disk format for Mac and PC to enjoy the following advantages.
- It will help you get rid of any sensitive data from your hard drive, so that the other user can’t access it.
- Once the disk is formatted, it will make it empty and let you store new content on it. Therefore, you can consider formatting a partition if you are running low of space.
- In case if the hard drive has been corrupted by a virus, then you can format it entirely to get rid of any malicious activity.
- By formatting a partition, you can manage the storage on your PC/Mac and merge the free space with another sector as well.
- It will automatically defragment the disk, which will let you reclaim the lost space on the storage unit.
- You can also resolve any disk issue by formatting your hard drive.
- After formatting a disk, you can reassign a file system to it, and make it compatible with your PC/Mac.
Part 2. Major Formats of Hard Drive for Mac and PC
Over the time, more than a hundred different kinds of file systems and formats have been developed for Mac and PC hard drive. Though, here are some of the most commonly used and compatible formats.
- exFAT: It stands for Extended File Allocation Table and is developed by Microsoft. The file system is mostly used to allocate space on external storage units like USB drives or SD cards.
- NTFS: The New Technology File System is used by Windows NT operating systems. It is the common format for the native hard drive of the system and is equipped with tons of new-age memory allocation techniques.
- FAT32: The File Allocation Table format is used to store data on units that have a capacity of more than 32 GB. It mostly works on external storage units like flash drives and is compatible with both Mac and Windows.
- APFS: The Apple File System is the native technique for macOS, iOS, tvOS, and even watchOS. It provides high-end encryption and is a replacement for the age-old HFS+ system developed by Apple.
There are different other kinds of file systems that your hard drive can support. To check it, just select the partition or the external disk, right-click, and visit its “Properties”. Go to the “General” tab to know details about the file system of the disk.
Part 3. How to Format Hard Drive for Mac and PC on Windows?
![Mac hard drive format software Mac hard drive format software](/uploads/1/3/4/3/134318410/733032711.png)
If your Mac or PC has a Windows OS installed, then you won’t face any trouble managing it. Every major version of the operating system provides a dedicated solution to format hard drive as well as external storage units. Also, you can manage the internal partitions, merge them, create new ones, and do so much more. Here’s how to format hard drive on your Windows PC.
- First, you need to access the Disk Management tool on your Windows. To do this, just click on the Start menu and look for “disk management”. Alternatively, you can also access it from the Control Panel.
- This will open a dedicated window for various disks on your system. Simply select a partition that you wish to format and right-click it. Choose the “Format” option to proceed.
- As the formatting wizard will open, select the kind of file system that you wish to convert it to. For instance, it can be NTFS, exFAT, and so on.
- You can also allocate it the relevant size or label it here as well. If you have less time, then you can choose to quick format it by enabling the relevant option.
- In the end, you will get a confirmation prompt like this. Just click on the “Format” or “Yes” button and wait for a while as the disk would be formatted.
Important Note: Formatting an external device
Windows also lets us format an external device like SD card, pen drive, etc. quite easily. Simply right-click its icon from My Computer and from the context menu, click on the “Format” option. Choose a file type and formatting option and click on the “Start” button to format the disk.
Part 4. How to Format Hard Drive for Mac and PC on Mac?
Just like Windows, macOS also gives us a seamless option to format hard drive for Mac (and PC). The operating system has an inbuilt tool, which is known as Disk Utility. Using it, you can erase a hard drive, create new partitions, and even repair your disk as well. To learn how to format in Mac your hard drive, follow these steps:
- To start with, just go to Finder > Applications > Utilities to view all the available tools and features. From here, you can launch the Disk Utility application.
- Here, you can view all kinds of storage units available on your system (both internal and external). Simply go to the left panel and select the disk you wish to format.
- On the right, you can view details about the selected disk. Go to its toolbar and click on the “Erase” option.
- This will display the following pop-up on the screen. You can give the partition/drive a label, select its partition scheme, and specify its file format as well.
- Click on the “Erase” button in the end and confirm your choice as Mac would format the selected disk.
In no time, the entire disk would be emptied and you can manage it the way you like. You can follow the same drill to format an external device on Mac as well.
Part 5. How to Recover Formatted Hard Drive on Mac?
By following the above-listed methods, you would be able to format hard drive for Mac and PC seamlessly. Though, if you have formatted a hard drive accidentally, then you might end up losing your important files. In this case, you can take the assistance of Recoverit Data Recovery software to get back your lost or deleted content from Mac. The data recovery tool is available for free and supports all the major macOS and Windows versions. Following a simple on-screen process, you can easily extract your data from your Mac’s hard drive or an external device.
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If you have deleted a partition on Mac or have lost it due to any other reason, then you should use Recoverit Data Recovery. It can help you restore partition data on Mac by following these easy steps.
Step 1: Select a Location
Firstly, launch the Recoverit Data Recovery application on your Mac and from its home, pick a location. A list of all the available locations will be displayed. 3m cogent csd 200 biometric device driver download. You can just pick a source and start the scan.
Step 2: Scan the Location
This will commence the data recovery operation on the selected location. You simply need to wait for a few minutes for the scan to finish successfully.
Step 3: Preview and Recover
Once the process is completed, you can just preview the extracted data on Recoverit’s interface. Make the needed selections and click on the “Recover” button, so that you can save your files to a safe location.
Important Note:
How To Format Hard Drive For Mac
If you are running the latest version of macOS, then you should consider disabling its System Integrity Protection feature first. https://salsatree705.weebly.com/blog/league-of-legends-mac-client-retarting-to-download. This will allow third-party apps like Recoverit to access the partitions and file system on your Mac. Restart your Mac and press the Command + R keys to boot it in the Recovery mode. Launch the Terminal app by visiting the Utilities menu and enter the command: csrutil disable. In the end, restart your Mac in the normal mode and launch Recoverit again.
Part 6. Tips for Formatting Hard Drive
Format Hard Drive For Mac And Pc Allocation Unit Size
If you want to get positive results while formatting your hard drive on Mac or PC, then consider following these steps:
Format Hard Drive For Mac And Pc 2018
- Since formatting will erase all the existing data on your hard drive, make sure you have taken its backup beforehand.
- When your system is formatting the drive, don’t halt the process in between as it can make the storage unavailable.
- As both Windows and Mac provide native solutions to format hard drive, you should avoid using any unreliable third-party tool.
- While formatting, you would be asked to pick a file system for the disk. Therefore, make sure that the file system is supported by your Mac or Windows.
- Instead of a quick format, you should follow the standard process. This will save the empty space on your system and avoid disk fragmentation.
Conclusion
Now you can easily format hard drive for Mac and PC like a pro, without facing any trouble. Apart from formatting the internal drive, we have also listed a smart solution to format external devices as well. Not just that – the guide has also included a working solution to recover data from a formatted drive. If you have accidentally formatted a drive, then use Recoverit Data Recovery. An excellent recovery tool for Mac and Windows, it will make sure that you never suffer from an unwanted loss of data again.
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