How to format hard drive?

LadyDee

Please can somebody give me really easy to understand instructions on how to reformat an external hard drive that has been used on a Mac so that I can use it with my Windows 7 laptop?

It's an Imation Apollo M100.

When I look in Devices, I can see the hard drive listed as M100 USB3, under "properties", it says "This device is working properly".

However, if I try to save a document to that drive it doesn't appear in the list of drives available.

I'm pretty sure this means it needs to be reformatted for Windows 7 but googling for the answer has just confused me more with talk of partitions, FAT et al.

I don't have access to the original MAC. Whatever is on the drive is not needed.

Help would be very much appreciated.

Moto2

LadyDee wrote: »

Please can somebody give me really easy to understand instructions on how to reformat an external hard drive that has been used on a Mac so that I can use it with my Windows 7 laptop?

It's an Imation Apollo M100.

When I look in Devices, I can see the hard drive listed as M100 USB3, under "properties", it says "This device is working properly".

However, if I try to save a document to that drive it doesn't appear in the list of drives available.

I'm pretty sure this means it needs to be reformatted for Windows 7 but googling for the answer has just confused me more with talk of partitions, FAT et al.

I don't have access to the original MAC. Whatever is on the drive is not needed.

Help would be very much appreciated.

Just try right clicking it in 'Computer' and selecting 'Format'
Choose NTFS as the file system

LadyDee

It's not showing in Computer - only Local Disc C; Lenovo D and DVD F there.

It is showing under Devices, but no option to format.

Moto2

Can you see it in 'Disk Management'?

Start>(right click) Computer>Manage>Disk Management

LadyDee

Moto2 wrote: »

Can you see it in 'Disk Management'?

Start>(right click) Computer>Manage>Disk Management

No, this is what is showing under Disk Management:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/k14vlitalflql9o/Screenshot%202016-11-14%2007.59.58.png?dl=0

I think I've done that right? That should be a screenshot.

Moto2

hmmmm..... dunno then

Somebody here will know a solution

googler

What's Disk 1 in your Disk Management screen?

That seems to be a separate HDD from your C: & drive (which are both on one disk)

Laz123

Does this help: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/external-drive-not-recognized-this-is-how-to-fix-it-in-windows/

LadyDee

googler wrote: »

What's Disk 1 in your Disk Management screen?

That seems to be a separate HDD from your C: & drive (which are both on one disk)

No idea, all I know is C & D and F - the DVD drive, but I don't think that can be the Imation drive as it's only very small capacity (14.75).

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n6g1hnypu5txl6z/Screenshot%202016-11-14%2009.47.13.png?dl=0

I just right clicked on the first little icon, got "Help", clicked on that and the following screen appeared:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/03sak97hvr33942/Screenshot%202016-11-14%2009.48.32.png?dl=0

If I unplug the Imation drive I get the following:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0h4tby46lujbnuj/Screenshot%202016-11-14%2009.50.06.png?dl=0

googler

There's some helpful and not-so-helpful suggestions here -

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5458776

I've been through this process already.

googler

LadyDee wrote: »

If I unplug the Imation drive I get the following:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0h4tby46lujbnuj/Screenshot%202016-11-14%2009.50.06.png?dl=0

So Disk 1 must be that drive, then. 300Gb capacity, does that match the published spec for that drive?

Are you up for dismantling the external drive and taking the actual hard drive out of the casing, and installing it internally in your PC?

You'll need some internal SATA and power leads.