But people often use other terms like delete and format interchangeably, while they’re actually quite different.If you have any files you want to save, copy them to another storage device. First, hard disk and hard drive have the same meaning. Download and try.Before jumping in, there’s a bit of terminology you should know. How to format hard drive under Mac OS Here are two hard drive format software applications to help you format, reformat or erase hard drive, memory card, USB under Mac OS.To learn how to format an external hard drive can be helpful as the information helps one in deriving the knowledge to repair their own hard disk drives.Delete: Deleting data actually just moves it into a folder, out of sight, like the Recycle Bin in Windows or the Trash on Mac. If you want to erase any other type of storage device: Double. If you want to erase your startup disk: Start up from macOS Recovery, then choose Disk Utility from the Recovery window.
![]() Format A New Hard Drive And Windows Mac OS Here AreIf you want to use the device again (or sell it), you’ll probably want to use the former method.Format: Depending on your operating system (OS), you’ll probably have a few options available. As with erasing, you can use data destruction software — or just break out a hammer. The more recently the files were deleted, the more likely it is that you can recover them.Erase: Erasing or scrubbing a file gets rid of it for good.Wipe: Wiping refers to erasing everything on a given storage device or hard drive. Before they get overwritten, though, you can still recover the files using data recovery software. That means when your device needs to save new data, it can (and will) use the space occupied by the deleted files. If you empty the Recycle Bin or Trash, the files can then be overwritten by new data. Look for viruses on macIdentify which type of hard drive you haveThere are different types of hard drives you may be looking to reformat.Your primary hard drive or C drive (C:) is the internal hard disk where the operating system (OS) resides. This ensures that you don’t end up with corrupted files down the line.Reformat: Some people use the term reformat — it’s the same as format!Now that we’ve got that down, there are a few more things you should know about the formatting process, for both Windows and Mac computers. A full format will also scan your disk for any bad sectors and remove them. The drive in question can be your hard drive, or a removable drive such as a USB. NTFS is also a good choice for external drives because it’s compatible with a wide range of devices. When you format a hard drive, you’ll be asked to choose your desired file system.If you’re using Windows, you can choose between NTFS, FAT32, and exFAT:NTFS: If you want to format your primary drive (which contains your OS), you must use NTFS (NT file system), which is the default Windows file system. File systems are rules that govern how an OS stores and reads files. Choose the right file systemNow that you’re clear on the differences between erasing and wiping, and between internal and external drives, it’s time to select a file system. An external hard drive is located outside of your computer, and it can take the form of a flash drive (also called thumb drive or USB) or a larger enclosure that can contain either a solid-state drive (SSD) or hard disk drive (HDD). This happens when your disk is partitioned (separated) between the primary drive and additional internal drives. It’s compatible with the largest range of file types, but it can’t store anything over 4 GB.Both NTFS and FAT32 will eventually become fragmented, meaning you’ll need to occasionally defragment them.If you’re using a Mac, you’ll generally use the APFS (Apple File System).APFS became the default file system when macOS High Sierra was introduced. Also, NTFS allows you to set advanced permissions, which can come in handy.FAT32: FAT32 is an older file system dating back to Windows 95. So if, say, you want to put a movie on a USB drive to play it on your TV, you should use NTFS. But it’s a little different if you’re formatting the primary drive vs. How to format a hard drive on WindowsFormatting a hard drive on Windows is largely the same whether you’re using Windows 10, 8, or 7. It’ll allow you to transfer files between different operating systems.Now that you’ve selected the appropriate file system, let’s get formatting! (Skip ahead for Mac instructions). Make sure you have an external USB (also called a thumb drive or flash drive) ready. That means your primary drive won’t be in use, so we’re able to work on it.Note that this process will delete the OS and all files, but it won’t permanently erase them.Got your Windows 10 or Windows 7 startup DVD on hand? Great, you can skip the next paragraph.If not, you’ll need to create a bootable Windows USB drive. So how can we get around this? We’ll run Windows from an installation DVD or a USB drive. That means you can’t format the primary drive while it’s running, for the same reason that you can’t repair a motorcycle’s engine while you’re riding it. How to format a primary (C:) drive on WindowsRecall that the primary drive, or C drive, contains the operating system. When you’re prompted with a choice of Types of Installation, choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) for Windows 10 or Custom (advanced) and then Drive options (advanced) for Windows 7.On the next screen, select Format. Note that Windows is not actually installing, so don’t worry if you don’t have a product key (and if necessary, select the box for no product key).Follow the next steps to choose your desired version of Windows and accept the terms. Select your desired language and time, and click Next.Click on Install now and then wait while Windows completes some setup procedures. Do so, and you might see a message that says Windows is loading files.The Windows setup wizard will launch. (That’s the only sign that the formatting has been completed.)At this point, your drive is formatted, and everything is gone! But now you don’t have an OS on your computer.Download Windows OS from your DVD or USB drive.How to format an internal or external drive on WindowsYour Windows hard drive may be partitioned into several different drives. Click OK if you’re sure.Your mouse will show a busy sign during the formatting process, and will then turn back into an arrow once it’s complete. If you want to format this partition, any data stored on it will be lost.” So you want to make sure that you’ve correctly selected your primary (or C) drive and that you’re okay with deleting all the data on it. Select the Primary drive and click Next.Click Format and Windows will warn you that this drive “ might contain important files or applications from your computer manufacturer. You can also rename drives here if you wish.A Format box will pop up. Select the drive you want to format (internal or external) by right-clicking and choosing Format…. Luckily, it’s much easier to reformat all of those drives, because they don’t contain the OS.Here’s how to format either an internal or external hard drive:Start up your computer as usual, but hold down the WINDOWS key and type in R to open the Run dialog box.When the box opens, type in diskmgmt.msc and then click OK.The Disk Management window will open. External drives are, again, hardware like USB drives or other external storage devices. It’ll do a basic delete of the hard drive in just a few seconds, but it doesn’t truly erase or wipe anything, meaning that it’s out of sight but not irretrievable. A quick format is — wait for it — quick. (See above for our guidance on file systems.) You’ll also have the choice to do a “quick” format or not. Just right-click on the drive and select Format. Click OK and you’re done!If you need to format a drive simply for the purpose of using a different file system, you can quickly do that from the Windows Explorer screen. It will also scan and remove any bad sectors, which prevents future corrupted files. This may take several hours, but will more thoroughly wipe your personal information. If you’re preparing your computer before giving it away or selling it, you should do a normal format by unchecking the Perform a quick format box. If you don’t clear it out regularly, your machine will start to slow down, freeze, and serve up error messages. Why is this necessary? During the normal computing process, Windows accumulates a ton of junk that bogs it down: residual files, leftover installers, temporary files, cached data, and more. If you’d prefer to keep your disk clean without taking the nuclear option, you can perform some disk maintenance instead.
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