First, connect your usb device to your computer and then rightclick on my. No worry, actually it is not impossible to realize it no matter you use an external or internal drive of your windows system. Formatting your wd my passport will erase any documents you have on the drive. Select ntfs for the file system type and check the quick format. How to format or partition an external hard drive for mac. You can also right click on computer my computer and click on manage. Jul 19, 2019 ntfs is a commonly used file format for windows systems and external devices. Need to format external hard drive ntfs while keeping data safe. Now you have solved the puzzle on how to convert exfat to ntfs using cmd in windows.
Open the device manager and find your usb drive under the disk drives heading. It had been connected to my older pc which was running windows 7 and also to a sony blueray player at times which both read the disc ok and still do. Learn how to format your external hard drive, and what file systems are. Reformating my external hard drive for wi apple community. All you have to do is rightclick on the drive and choose format. How to format external hard drive to ntfs in window1087. If you dont have a ton of data on the drive, the best bet is to copy any data from the drive to somewhere else, reformat the drive, and then copy the data back. Ntfs is native to windows, and most hard drives are preformatted for this file system.
Thisll be the first external hd ive owned that has been mac plug and play. Reformatting a 3tb ntfs usb hd in exfat so it works with macs. Aug 14, 2017 i just purchased the new model my book 4 tb usb 3. Then i realized that xp cant read exfat, so i wanted to reformat it to ntfs. Western digital my book live 3tb wdbacg0030hcheesn 3. In disk utility on mac, you can erase and reformat storage devices to use with your mac. You have options when it comes to formatting a usb drive for use in a pc. Heres how to reformat your drive so it can be read by and mac or a pc. How to convert a hard drive or flash drive from fat32 to ntfs. Your backup plus desktop is formatted as ntfs for compatibility with windows out of the box.
Should i reformat my passport to ntfs tech support guy. And should i rather repair it or quick format it or better full format. If you are looking for a powerful software to format external hard drive ntfs to get a better computer using experience, you will never regret spending some time skimming through this page. It should delete an internal operating system on the drive as well. If youre caught offguard, you might accidentally reformat your my book. Ntfs partitions have a file size limit only limited by the partition size. The only downside to ntfs on an external drive is that on some external drives, converting to ntfs makes the drive read only, so check the drives documentation either print or online to see what will or wont happen by converting.
I then tried to connect a wd my book 3tb external drive to act as a backup disc. And then you can head back here to find out more uses for your toshiba external head drive. So how does a file system spontaneously change from ntfs to exfat. Open the disk utility app and highlight your external hard drive. Instead, it has very large file and partition size limits, like ntfs, but none of its extra features to maintain its svelte file system. I have a wd passport that my tv formatted to udf now i would need to reformat it back to ntfs. How to convert a macformatted drive to a windows drive.
How to convert external hard drives from fat32 to ntfs windows xp all versions note. Mar 09, 2008 ntfs will allow you to save individual files larger than 4 gb and does offer better file checking to avoid damaged files. To get around this problem or prevent it from being a problem later you could format the drive as an ntfs partition. The western digital my book studio gives you a capacious 4tb drive to match your aluminum imac or mac mini. Interestingly, ive just unboxed my new 6tb my book, installed the wd discovery app on my mac, and the drive is already formatted to exfat. Therfore, you can connect backup plus desktop to a windows pc without formatting the hard drive. For instance, you might wish to format as sd card, pen drive, external hard disk, etc. Ntfs will allow you to save individual files larger than 4 gb and does offer better file checking to avoid damaged files. I had to reformat the drive to ntfs the wd my book 8tb external usb 3. If youre worrying about losing data during partition formatting, back them up to a safe place before you start. Ntfs is less supported in nonwindows devices like android phones, routers, maybe some nases, etc. First, you can go into computer my computer, right click on the drive you want to reformat make sure your data is backed up somewhere else, and click on format. If you are looking to sell or donate your old drive, you will want to not only reformat your drive, but also erase all the data in a separate action.
What i really need is a drive that reads on my windows so i. Rightclick the western digital drive and select format. The western digital my book, for example, comes formatted to ntfs, but you can reformat it to exfat for use with macos read our western. I have a wd mybook home external drive that is not detected by windows 7or xp.
Oct 20, 2019 formatting your wd my passport will erase any documents you have on the drive. People tell me that macs cant write to ntfs formatted hds. For example, if you plug the 4tb western digital my book you use with your macbook pro into your windows 10 pc, windows will tell you the drive is blank and ask you if you want to format it. Accidental reformat recover files from reformatted drive. Formatting actually reformatting a solid state drive ssd is a quick and simple process to restore the drive to a clean state, similar to when the drive was new. I had to reformat the drive to ntfsthe wd my book 8tb external usb 3. You can do this with an internal drive, other then your c windows drive too. You could save the file to an ntfs partition or a dvd. You will need to reformat the drive or partition which will erase all data, including programs and personal files, on the partition.
How to use toshiba external hard drive on mac solved. Sep 17, 2019 see my point above on using your toshiba external hard drive without getting rid of the files on there. This is the file system that is compatible with your. After full reformat of external drive wd mybook to ntfs. However, with some slight tweaking of settings, you can actually format your removable storage devices in ntfs format, including external hard drives, etc. When you buy your my passport ntfs drive its pre loaded with windows pc software. I just got a western digital my book essential 500gb usb 2. Download wd quick formatter to reformat wd external hard drive to ntfs, fat32, etc in windows 1087. More importantly, how do i change it back without reformatting it. Overwrite exfat format of 8tb external drive with ntfs. How to reformat a wd external hard drive it still works.
But is it better if i go ahead and reformat the drive to ntfs to do the full imagebackup. Erase and reformat a storage device in disk utility on mac. Windows must be installed to a partition formatted as ntfs so my question is how do i uninstall ubuntu so my hd is back to ntfs format so i can reinstall my windows vista and then when i have all that installed, ill reinstall ubuntu again, but this time, ill install it alongside my windows vista. How to open an external drive thats not showing on mac. If you have files on the my passport drive and you want to keep them. This format is also compatible with all versions of windows but limited to none windows os as fat32.
External hard drives are getting to be very popular these days. How do i format a usb flash drive to ntfs file system. How to format external hard drive to use on mac and pc. How to format an external hard drive the easy way in 2020. However dont do this with a drive that contains data. Download wd quick formatter to format external drive in windows. Format udf hard drive as ntfs in windows 7 super user.
Macs can read ntfs drives, and can read and write to fat32 drives. The mac drive may have an efi system partition on it. Aug 29, 2016 you have options when it comes to formatting a usb drive for use in a pc. All data on the external hard drive will be erased by this procedure. So you figured, fine, ill just get an external hard drive. Unable to set wd my book 3tb external drive as backup disk. My book external hard drive western digital wd it is formated in exfat. Choose ntfs and then click apply next to complete formatting. Highlight your drive and click partition in disk utility. I have a mybook hard drive that someone gave to me to format to ntfs. Unfortunately, win7 nor xp will no longer recognize it after formatting when it is attached to a usb. It is preformatted to to fat32, yet i keep reading that is should be reformatted to ntfs for windows xp. The format is not used for the internal hard drives in mac. Many people think it is hard to format the windows drive on macintosh.
Feb 08, 2020 how to partition an external hard drive on mac. However, i need to reformat it back to an ntfs but i dont see the option to do it on my own mac book. Is there any possibility to reformat wd my book live exact model. If you have ever tried to format a usb thumb drive or memory stick, you may have noticed that the only file system options you have are fat and fat32. We here will show you the full guides on how to format fat32 and ntfs drives on mac as an example. I had some files saved in it, that i wished to transfer to the winxp computer. The hd in question is a brand new unmodified seagate backup plus 3tb usb i picked up at costco. If youre lucky, you can just rightclick each partition on the mac drive and select delete volume to remove the partitions. Ntfs is a commonly used file format for windows systems and external devices. Format new external drive as an ntfs partition it services nmu. The wd mybook, 8 tb, should it better be formated in exfat or ntfs. People told me that if i reformat the hd to exfat i will be able to. Oct 15, 2015 is there any possibility to reformat wd my book live exact model.
A word of caution here once you convert a drive or partition to ntfs, you cannot simply convert it back to fat or fat32. Format hard drive in windows 10 with easeus management software. Dec 08, 2011 i have a wd mybook home external drive that is not detected by windows 7or xp. But now, even that computer with vista keeps saying that its not formatted when i click on that drive under my computer. See my point above on using your toshiba external hard drive without getting rid of the files on there. If you want to create multiple partitions on your external hard drive in fact, you should for better file organization, heres a stepbystep guide. Long story short i had to temporarily reformat my external drive for mac time machine so i could start the boot camp. Reformatting will delete all the data stored on the drive, so if you need to. If you have ever tried to format a usb thumb drive or memory stick, you. Oct 14, 2019 how to format external hard drive to ntfs in window1087. You can then rightclick in the empty space and select new simple volume to create a partition and format it with the windows ntfs or fat32 file systems. Change whatever settings you would like as long as you have ntfs selected as the filesystem, and hit format. Jan 12, 2011 i have a wd passport that my tv formatted to udf now i would need to reformat it back to ntfs. As of now im still using my 10yr old imb desktop with windows xp it has a 2.
You can convert fat or fat32 volumes to ntfs with this command. How to format a hard drive windows 10, 8, 7, vista, xp. Format new external drive as an ntfs partition it services. Be sure you selected the correct drive icon for the my passport external drive.
Well explain what they are and how to choose the best file system for your needs. Youll find an article taking you through how to do that on this site. Ntfs is a modern format system and windows also uses this format for itself and for other nonremovable drives by default. It is debatable how quick and reliable especially when disconnected without ejecting are logic would say refs wins but in my experience ntfs wins. If so, should i use windows 10 disk management or the wd quick formatter. It has already got some media files on it but plenty of free space about 75% free.
My understanding is that exfat was designed specifically for usb drives, but that windows ntfs offers greater reliability. Formatting external drive wd my book 8tb from exfat to ntfs. Easeus partition software is a popular disk partition management tool that is available for all hard disk related jobs such as format disk partition, extend system partition, settle low disk space problem, convert mbr to gpt without data loss and vice versa. Thus, if you wish to format ntfs on mac, then you must be using an external storage unit. How to convert external hard drives from fat32 to ntfs. Format wd my passport for mac and pc with ms dos fat 32 or exfat. And what program should i use to repair the file system, there seems to be anything wrong, also the same drive is shown twice, as f. How to format usb drive to ntfs windows 10 all 4 ways easeus. Ill store my media files on it while keeping the internal hard drive clear for apps and the os. Right now its udf and windows treats it like a cdrom.