How To Format Mac Pc

Go to the Applications folder on your Mac's hard drive, then go to the Utilities folder, and launch Disk Utility. Select the drive you want to format. Warning: the following steps will delete any info you currently have on the drive. Click the Erase button. Why should you consider formatting your hard drive? You might already know the consequences of.

Make your hard disk or USB flash drive compatible to both Mac and Windows PCs using this easy step by step guide.

1. Formatting and reinstalling Mac Operating system requires an internet connection. Click on the 'Disk utility' option from the Recovery Menu. A new window will appear, on which you select the 'Continue' option. In the Disk Utility window, click on 'Startup Disk' and 'Erase' buttons and select the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) version.
2. Plug your HD into the Mac and open Disk Utility, which can be accessed by searching for it in Spotlight. Then, select your hard drive from the left sidebar. Now go to the Erase tab.
3. Formatting hard disk for Mac is particularly necessary for purchases of generic PC drives, which nearly all come preformatted for Windows rather than Mac OS. And even though connecting the preformatted hard drive for Windows will work fine on Mac, it is important highly recommendable you format the hard drive exclusively for Mac compatible file.

The irony is that, by default, Windows and Mac use different file systems. While Windows uses NTFS file system, Mac hard drives are formatted with HFS file system. And they are incompatible with each other! Now, the question is how to make hard drive compatible with Mac and PCs?

Mac Os How To Format Usb

Well, you can format the drive and make it as excellent cross-platform compatible to work with both Windows and Mac. This is not a difficult task at all. And if you are going to use Mac and Windows PC frequently, you will find this as very useful as any data, files, media files stored on the drive can be easily accessible from any operating system. It is just a matter of few minutes to do this. In this article, we are going to introduce you with the entire process in few simple guidelines.

How to Format a Drive for Mac and Windows PC Compatibility?

You can format any hard drive, flash drive, SSD, USB drive, that is accepted by both a Mac and Windows machine. And it is recommended to carry out the entire process on Mac OS X

• Open Disk Utility
• Attach the drive you wish to format for dual compatibility to the Mac
• Click the drive name on the left side list in Disk Utility, and then click the Erase tab
• Then click the pulldown menu alongside Format and select MS-DOS (FAT)
• Give the drive a name(optional) and click the Erase button to format the drive

When you want to use your drive with older versions of Windows, you may also need to set the partition scheme to Master Boot Record (MBR) for full Windows compatibility:

• Click the drive, then select Partition tab
• From the Partition Layout dropdown menu, select 1 Partition
• Click Options and choose Master Boot Record as the partition type, then click OK and Apply

'Drives format very quickly, though the total time taken will depend on the size of the drive. Remember, formatting a drive erases all data contained on it so back up important files before proceeding. In the event of not having backups, then you can recover formatted external hard drive data using a reliable Mac Hard drive recovery software. Remo Recover for Mac is recommended here.'

Mac compatible backlit keyboard. Hard drive can be formatted using both FAT32 and exFAT. Which one is better? FAT32 or exFAT?

Mac How To Format Fat32

Once you have done with formatting, the drive will be compatible to be read and written to on both a Mac and PC, and the resulting FAT file system is compatible with all versions of Mac OS X, and Windows, including Windows 10, it's one of the most widely recognized and usable file system formats.

This widespread compatibility makes FAT an ideal file system to use for external hard drives that are intended for use in environments with multiple operating systems.

One of the limitations of using FAT32 is the file size limit, which limits files on the drive to being 4GB in size or less. If you require single files to be larger than 4GB, use exFAT instead, though you will lose some compatibility with older versions of Mac OS X and Windows.

Why can't you use NTFS on Mac?

The NTFS file system is another option to use for Windows formatted drives and volumes, but it has limited compatibility with Mac OS by default. Mac users can mount and read NTFS formatted Windows drives, making NTFS compatible with the Mac on the reading and mounting front, but writing to an NTFS drive requires using either third party software or enabling NTFS write support on the Mac using an experimental functionality bundled on the Mac. So if you want to do heavy file sharing between Mac and Windows with a lot of reading and writing, it is better to format a drive as FAT32 as discussed above.

However, backup any data on the external hard drive you want to keep on another device before formatting. Formatting a hard drive will erase all data that's stored on it. Both Windows and Mac OS X allow you to adjust the size of the format partitions on external hard drives. Set the number to the maximum to use the entire drive in a single partition. FAT32 formatted drives also work for PC and Mac sharing, in particular with older versions of both operating systems. However, Microsoft recommends against using FAT32 whenever possible in favor of exFAT.

Personal computers are available in virtually every part of the world that has any kind of modern civilization. They are used in commercial and household setting for various purposes to improve the lives of the human race. MacBook Pro is considered one of the leading there are brands in the computer manufacturing industry. In this article, you will be told about the ways to Format MacBook Pro.

How To Format Mac Hard Drive For Pc

Like any other machine, they are subject to breakdowns. Whenever a computer is affected by a stubborn virus, the Operating system isn't working properly or you have a memory problem, certain ways to format MacBook Pro are usually recommended.

Contents

• 1 3 Methods on How to Format MacBook Pro

3 Methods on How to Format MacBook Pro

There are multiple ways to Format Macbook Pro, here are 2 of the easiest methods with all the steps given in detail.

Simply follow the step by step guide to clean format your Macbook Pro.

1. Erasing the Drive and Installing OS X

The process of formatting a computer depends on the Operating system it runs on. There are many variations of how to format a MacBook Pro. The most secure and easy method involves following these steps:

• The first step is turning on the computer. The computer must be completely off before you attempt to power it on (not the 'sleep mode' option).
• Press and hold command, options and R key right after you hear the startup sound. An Apple logo is expected on the screen. This process reveals the formatting and Recovery options.

• Release the Keys when a Window appears asking you about internet options.
• You can select the type of internet connection to use during the process. Select the option on the basis of internet connection that is available. Formatting and reinstalling Mac Operating system requires an internet connection.
• Click on the 'Disk utility' option from the Recovery Menu. A new window will appear, on which you select the 'Continue' option.

• In the Disk Utility window, click on 'Startup Disk' and 'Erase' buttons and select the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) version. This drop-down menu allows you to select a custom version of the OS.

• You can then provide the name for the disk and proceed to erase. This performs the formatting and erases the disk.

• Minimize or close the Utility disk and from the recovery menu select 'Reinstall OS X'.
• Press continue on the window that appears and you are good to go.
• This method is easy to execute and results in a PC with a current version of the Operating system after formatting is complete.

2. Recovering from a Time Machine Backup

• The first step is turning on the computer. The computer must be completely off before you attempt to power it on (not the 'sleep mode' option).
• Press and hold command, options and R keys right after you hear the startup sound. An Apple logo is expected on the screen. This process reveals the formatting and Recovery options.
• Release the Keys when a window appears asking you about internet options.
• You can select the type of internet connection to use during the process. This is dependent on the type of internet connection that is available. Formatting and reinstalling Mac Operating system using Time Machine Backup requires an internet connection.
• Choose 'Restore from Time Machine Backup,' and then click on 'Continue.'
  The method will only work if you had earlier backed up your MacBook system using the application Time Machine. In a case that you have never maintained a backup using this application, Time Machine, then follow the other steps explained in Methods 1 or 3 of the article as methods to format MacBook Pro and reinstalling OS X.

Format Hard Drive For Mac And Pc

Once you have done with formatting, the drive will be compatible to be read and written to on both a Mac and PC, and the resulting FAT file system is compatible with all versions of Mac OS X, and Windows, including Windows 10, it's one of the most widely recognized and usable file system formats.

This widespread compatibility makes FAT an ideal file system to use for external hard drives that are intended for use in environments with multiple operating systems.

One of the limitations of using FAT32 is the file size limit, which limits files on the drive to being 4GB in size or less. If you require single files to be larger than 4GB, use exFAT instead, though you will lose some compatibility with older versions of Mac OS X and Windows.

Why can't you use NTFS on Mac?

The NTFS file system is another option to use for Windows formatted drives and volumes, but it has limited compatibility with Mac OS by default. Mac users can mount and read NTFS formatted Windows drives, making NTFS compatible with the Mac on the reading and mounting front, but writing to an NTFS drive requires using either third party software or enabling NTFS write support on the Mac using an experimental functionality bundled on the Mac. So if you want to do heavy file sharing between Mac and Windows with a lot of reading and writing, it is better to format a drive as FAT32 as discussed above.

However, backup any data on the external hard drive you want to keep on another device before formatting. Formatting a hard drive will erase all data that's stored on it. Both Windows and Mac OS X allow you to adjust the size of the format partitions on external hard drives. Set the number to the maximum to use the entire drive in a single partition. FAT32 formatted drives also work for PC and Mac sharing, in particular with older versions of both operating systems. However, Microsoft recommends against using FAT32 whenever possible in favor of exFAT.

Personal computers are available in virtually every part of the world that has any kind of modern civilization. They are used in commercial and household setting for various purposes to improve the lives of the human race. MacBook Pro is considered one of the leading there are brands in the computer manufacturing industry. In this article, you will be told about the ways to Format MacBook Pro.

How To Format Mac Hard Drive For Pc

Like any other machine, they are subject to breakdowns. Whenever a computer is affected by a stubborn virus, the Operating system isn't working properly or you have a memory problem, certain ways to format MacBook Pro are usually recommended.

Contents

• 1 3 Methods on How to Format MacBook Pro

3 Methods on How to Format MacBook Pro

There are multiple ways to Format Macbook Pro, here are 2 of the easiest methods with all the steps given in detail.

Simply follow the step by step guide to clean format your Macbook Pro.

1. Erasing the Drive and Installing OS X

The process of formatting a computer depends on the Operating system it runs on. There are many variations of how to format a MacBook Pro. The most secure and easy method involves following these steps:

• The first step is turning on the computer. The computer must be completely off before you attempt to power it on (not the 'sleep mode' option).
• Press and hold command, options and R key right after you hear the startup sound. An Apple logo is expected on the screen. This process reveals the formatting and Recovery options.

• Release the Keys when a Window appears asking you about internet options.
• You can select the type of internet connection to use during the process. Select the option on the basis of internet connection that is available. Formatting and reinstalling Mac Operating system requires an internet connection.
• Click on the 'Disk utility' option from the Recovery Menu. A new window will appear, on which you select the 'Continue' option.

• In the Disk Utility window, click on 'Startup Disk' and 'Erase' buttons and select the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) version. This drop-down menu allows you to select a custom version of the OS.

• You can then provide the name for the disk and proceed to erase. This performs the formatting and erases the disk.

• Minimize or close the Utility disk and from the recovery menu select 'Reinstall OS X'.
• Press continue on the window that appears and you are good to go.
• This method is easy to execute and results in a PC with a current version of the Operating system after formatting is complete.

2. Recovering from a Time Machine Backup

• The first step is turning on the computer. The computer must be completely off before you attempt to power it on (not the 'sleep mode' option).
• Press and hold command, options and R keys right after you hear the startup sound. An Apple logo is expected on the screen. This process reveals the formatting and Recovery options.
• Release the Keys when a window appears asking you about internet options.
• You can select the type of internet connection to use during the process. This is dependent on the type of internet connection that is available. Formatting and reinstalling Mac Operating system using Time Machine Backup requires an internet connection.
• Choose 'Restore from Time Machine Backup,' and then click on 'Continue.'
  The method will only work if you had earlier backed up your MacBook system using the application Time Machine. In a case that you have never maintained a backup using this application, Time Machine, then follow the other steps explained in Methods 1 or 3 of the article as methods to format MacBook Pro and reinstalling OS X.

Format Hard Drive For Mac And Pc

How To Format Mac Drive To Pc

• Pick your Time Machine backup disk, later choose the Time Machine backup you wish to restore. If you wish to format MacBook Pro with the help of this method, this method will reinstall OS X, along with your personal documents. For an instance, when you format MacBook to invert the impacts of a virus, choose a Time Machine backup which was maintained before the installation of the virus on your MacBook system.

• Click on 'Continue' to follow the instructions shown on-screen for the reinstallation of OS X along with your personal documents. When it gets completed, your MacBook Pro system will be formatted including the reinstallation of OS X as well as recovery of your personal data.

3. Reinstalling OS X from Recovery

• The first step is turning on the computer. The computer must be completely off before you attempt to power it on (not the 'sleep mode' option).
• Press and hold command, options and R keys right after you hear the startup sound. An Apple logo is expected on the screen. This process reveals the formatting and Recovery options.
• Release the Keys when a window appears asking you about internet options.
• You can select the type of internet connection to use during the process. This is dependent on the type of internet connection that is available. Formatting and reinstalling Mac Operating system X requires an internet connection.
• Choose 'Reinstall OS X' from the Recovery menu, and then click on 'Continue' to proceed.

Final Words

Just follow the instructions on the screen of your system to reinstall OS X on MacBook Pro system. Your system will lead you within the installation method, and soon you will be assisted to pick the hard disk where you wish OS X to be installed. Once completed, on your MacBook Pro system OS X would have been installed as fresh and you will get your personal files recovered in no time.