The Partition Map holds all the information of what is what.Ĭhanging the partition map/table scheme will erase all data on the entire drive, it's like burning a treasure map, no directions anymore.Ĭhanging the format of a single partition on a multi-partitioned drive only erases the data on the partition being formatted. Partition - is a space on the drive that appears as another volume, but still resides on the same piece of physical hardware.įormatting - is how a entire drive or partition is structured to hold data, one drive can be partitioned into many separate partitions each with their own formatting. There is only one partition map on the drive. Partition Map or Table - is instructions written at the beginning of the drive that tell the hardware it's running from: what, how many, and where the partitions are on the drive. Open Disk Utility and select the drive makers name and size on the far left, thenįormat: MSDOS (FAT32) for under 4GB sized files, orįormat: exFAT - for +4GB sized files (exFAT is proprietary, patent pending, may have to pay later) #4 Format a drive or USB thumb drive etc., to work with only between recent Mac 10.6.5+ & Vista-Win 7, on a Mac Note: Reports of issues that exFAT formatting on a Mac doesn't work well with Windows PC's, use the oldest Windows version instead. (Format: exFAT - for over 4GB sized files (Mac's pre OS X 10.6.5 won't have exFAT)) Take the drive to the oldest OS X version on the Mac(s), Open Disk Utility and select the drive makers name and size on the far left, thenįormat: MSDOS (FAT32) - for under 4GB files and to work work with consoles, devices that need firmware etc., or #3 Format a drive or USB thumb drive etc., to work with Mac or PC, on a Mac (most compatibility)

If your Windows XP machine doesn't have exFAT, there is a free download from Microsoft. Take it to the oldest Windows PC your going to share data with, usually XP, right click on it's icon and select format:ĮxFAT - for large video/movie files use +4GB (pre-10.6.5 Mac's can't read this format, use FAT32)įAT(32) - for most anything, small use (under 4GB sized files), thumb drives, most compatibility with connecting to TV's consoles and other devices #2 Format a drive, USB thumb drive etc., to work with Mac or a PC, on a PC.

Open Disk Utility and select the drive makers name and size on the far left, then Partition: Options: GUID partition table and Format: OS X Extended (Journaled) name it and click Apply. #1 If you want to format a drive, USB Thumb drive etc., to only work with a recent Mac and to boot OS X with So make sure you have a copy of the data off the drive your attempting to change and physically disconnect all other non-essential drives so no mistakes occur. Whenever you changing the drive, there is the potential for the lost of data.

Remember to always: 'Safely remove hardware' before physically disconnecting from a PCĪnd also to drag the drive to the Trash Can/Eject before physically disconnecting on the Mac. I will explain to you just the basics how storage drives operate in regards to different operating systems, formatting and partitions, especially sharing data with Windows PC's which is the most common asked about issue.įor simplicity sake, I have stuck to the most current used formats and steps on Mac's and PC's that your likely to encounter and encouraged to use now.

Disk utility format usb for mac and pc