Jun 16,2019 • Filed to: Mac Recovery • Proven solutions
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.
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!
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. How to properly Format/Reformat a hard drive for Mac OS. A hard drive or hard disk can be used in any type of computer, whether for PC (Windows) or for Mac. Before you can use it though, you need to properly format or reformat a hard drive so that it will become compatible or readable with the Operating System that you are using.
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
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: Cyberduck for mac download. 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.
Step 3 Click on Disk Utility.
Step 4 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. Install r for mac.
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
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!
In this article, the TechExploring team will pass the bridge between two operating systems and delve into the reaches of how to best format external hard drive for Mac and PC.
Apple and Microsoft do not always see eye to eye when it comes to software technology or even data administration. The two companies have been friendly rivals for decades now and one of the main reasons why users had to pick a side and stick to it was due to the entirely different way that the two very different operating systems read data.
Apple and Microsoft do not always see eye to eye when it comes to software technology or even data administration. The two companies have been friendly rivals for decades now and one of the main reasons why users had to pick a side and stick to it was due to the entirely different way that the two very different operating systems read data.
Choice and Convenience
Presently, companies or professionals backing up, migrating, transferring, or unifying their data from one operating system to the other do not have many alternatives.
They could upload their data to a cloud. However, uploading terabytes of data means hours, if not days of time, not to mention the monthly cloud storage fees.
They could create a network between the two. The very different types of data management would require users to install at least one third party program on each operating system. While most of them are available for free, not many users are willing to trust programs that directly affect their hard drives. Additionally, the Mac and PC may not always be so physically near to each other.
For now, the best solution available for portable terabytes of data transfer remains the almighty external HDD. However, an external hard drive for Mac and PC is usually subject to the same data management restrictions imposed by the operating systems. Mac OSX runs data in the HFS+ format, while Windows manages its data with the NTFS format.
Nevertheless, the bridge between the two operating systems can be achieved with an external hard drive for Mac and PC formatted as exFAT.
On File System Architectures
File Allocation Table, otherwise known as FAT, was one of the most used file systems architecture in the early ‘90s.
Windows NT was the first Microsoft operating system that got the opportunity to introduce to the world the New Technology File System, more commonly known as NTFS. The 2000 version also ran optimally on the NTFS format. Windows 2000 also saw a greater popularity than Windows NT.
After the launch of Windows XP, the FAT32 system was considered antiquated and was used mainly for flash drives in order to more easily transfer data between PCs that ran with the NTFS format and older PCs that still ran FAT32.
Out With The Old…
The last version of NTFS released by Microsoft was with Windows XP in 2001 which means that PCs have not really seen any update on their file system architecture in a decade and a half.
HFS Plus, or HFS+, was proprietarily designed by Apple for the OSX. Its design is an overall upgrade of the Hierarchical File System format, or HFS. Currently, some support for Microsoft Windows exists but it is very limited and based on only viewing the data and not being able to access it.
Both the Windows 10 and Mac OSX operating systems can read files from a FAT32 drive. However, the legacy file system architecture does come with some downsides.
First of all, individual file size on FAT32 is capped at 4GB. The file-size cap limits users who want to transfer long or high-quality video files for example.
A second huge drawback of FAT32 drives comes with its partitioning. The largest partition Windows can make on FAT32 is 32GB. Users would have to create over 30 partitions set to FAT32 on a 1TB external hard drive for Mac and PC. The largest partition OSX can make on FAT32 is 2TB, which is definitely a major improvement from Windows but could still be an inconvenience to some users.
… In With The New!
exFAT is a redesign which was initially presented in 2007. Although that makes it almost a decade old, it still makes the system statistically newer than NTFS and FAT32. From the very start, exFAT was designed as the go-to format for data backup, storage, and transfer. The file system architecture was made for the best external hard drives.
The following tutorials will teach users how to format an external hard drive for both Mac and PC to exFAT on Mac OSX and Windows 10.
How To Format an External Hard Drive For Mac and PC
Note: Formatting an external hard drive will remove all the data already present on it. Please, backup any data you are interested in keeping which is already present on the external hard drive for Mac and PC before converting the drive to exFAT.
Note: Users will not have to format the same drive to exFAT both on OSX and Windows 10 and should choose whichever operating system is more accessible to them.
How to Format an External Hard Drive on Mac OSX
In this tutorial, the Tech Exploring team will be covering the latest version of Mac OSX, OSX 10.11 El Capitan. For previous OSX 10.10 Yosemite and all other earlier versions, the process is not much different, but the Disk Utility program is in a different location.
Step 1
Connect the external hard drive to the Mac computer. Both wired and wireless connections apply.
NOTE: Formatting external hard drive for Max and PC via a wired connection is generally faster.
Step 2
Access Mac HD. The icon is by default located in the upper right corner of the desktop. In Mac HD, on the left-side panel, access Applications. In Applications, access Utilities. Finally, in Utilities access Disk Utility.
Step 3
In Disk Utility, a list of all currently connected storage devices will be visible. Access the hard drive which will be formatted to exFAT.
Step 4
How To Format Usb Drive Windows 10
After accessing the drive in Disk Utility, from the top-side set of buttons, click on Erase.
Step 5
An Erase window will pop up. Set a name for the hard drive and then click on the Erase button to continue.
Step 6
After the erasing process finishes, click the Done button to continue.
Step 7
Back in the Disk Utility window, from the top-side set of buttons, click on Partition.
Step 8
A Partition window will pop up. In the Format drop-down list, choose exFAT. Click the Apply button to continue.
Step 9
The Disk Utility will automatically begin to format the external hard drive for Mac and PC. The duration of the process is based on the external drive’s total storage and RPM.
Step 10
After several minutes of waiting, the process will finish. Click the Done button to finish formatting the external hard drive for Mac and PC to exFAT.
On Windows 10
In this tutorial, the Tech Exploring team will only be covering Windows 10. The process is not much different for the older versions of Windows but the location of the Disk Management program is not in the same location.
Step 1
Connect the external hard drive to the PC. If drivers begin to automatically install, wait until the process finishes. Both wired and wireless connections work. Choose the fastest. In most cases is the wired connection.
Step 2
Right-click on the Start button, portrayed by the Windows logo in the taskbar. After the options popup, select Disk Management.
Step 3
In the Disk Management window, the bottom-side pane will display all available storage devices connected to the PC. Right-click on the external hard drive which will be converted to exFAT.
NOTE: One or more blue bars on the external hard drive panes are indicators that show the drive has already been set to a certain format and partitioned. Make sure there is no additional data that needs to be backed up before continuing.
Hard Drive From Mac To Pc
NOTE: If the external hard drive is labeled as Not Initialized, then users will have to initialize the drive before formatting the external hard drive for Mac and PC.
Step 4
In the right-click pop-up, click on Delete Volume. Once the process completes, the external hard drive’s storage will be listed as Unallocated in the Disk Management window.
Step 5
Right-click on the external hard drive again and after the new right-click pop-up, click on New Simple Volume.
Step 6
Proceed through the steps of the New Simple Volume Wizard by reading each step and then clicking Next.
Step 7
Partitioning will be available as part of the New Simple Volume Wizard. By default, the Wizard will list the maximum storage capacity of the external hard drive. Click the Next button to continue.
NOTE: We recommend not changing this value and leaving the external drive to be just one partition.
Step 8
Assigning the drive letter will be available as part of the New Simple Volume Wizard. By default, the Wizard will assign the next available alphabetical letter to the drive. After selecting the desired drive letter, click the Next button to continue.
Step 9
Choosing the file system will be available as part of the New Simple Volume Wizard. Set the file system to exFAT from the drop-down list. Then, set the Allocation unit size to Default and the Volume Label to the desired external drive name. Finally, check the box to Perform a quick format.
Step 10
Once everything is set, click the Next button to continue and then the Finish button to exit the Wizard. The Disk Management program will begin to format external hard drive for Mac and PC.
At the end of the process, the external hard drive for Mac and PC will be formatted and listed as exFAT with an entirely blue bar.
Conclusion
Although we have received no endorsement whatsoever, the Tech Exploring team would also like to recommend its readers a portable and solid pick when looking for an external hard drive format for Mac and PC.
How To Format Hard Drive For Mac
The Seagate Backup Plus Slim is an external hard drive that has yet to disappoint us, even after undergoing practical tests for this format external hard drive for Mac and PC tutorial. It is fast, portable, and reliable. We have been using the 2TB and 4TB Fast models; we acquired ours from Amazon but the model available for sale on many other retailers.
Our team hopes that this tutorial on quickly formatting external hard drive for Mac and PC to exFAT will help you transfer the data you need to the operating system you want. If you have any questions, feel free to let us know in the comments section.
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