Solved cannot format an external Hardrive from Mac To Pc

[sharma]

I'm having trouble converting an external hardrive (WD Ext HDD 1021 USB Device) that was used previously on a MAC computer to a PC. I have tried going into Disk Management, however I cannot right click to reformat the drive as it's greyed out. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling to no avail. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[GokAy]

Can you delete the partition on right pane?

Try Partition Wizard free. If it doesn't work in Windows, make the bootable media and try to format with it.

 

[sharma]

sorry I'm not much of a computer guy, please explain more....I am able to delete this volume if thats what you mean

 

[AddRAM]

You shouldn`t need the bootable PW disc, just install Partition Wizard, then delete the external drive to unallocated space, then create an NTFS partition out of it and format it using Partition Wizard.

Just run PW and right click on the external drive to bring up the drop down menu.

Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Free

 

[GokAy]

AddRAM: Can you comment on below please.

Well, that screenshot wasn't there when I posted. Why did you color that disk5 yellow? That doesn't look like an external drive.
Wait before you are told to delete it safely. The EFI partition is on it!

 

[sharma]

I have downloaded partition wizard and provided a screen grab as I just need a little help to follow the steps you previously mentioned.....

 

[sharma]

I coloured in the yellow as I was sure it was the external hardrive, nothing has been deleted yet?

 

[AddRAM]

disk 5 is the external hard drive, correct ?

It`s the lower drive in your PW shot, correct ?

I would also convert it to MBR instead of GPT, it`s only a 1 TB drive.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26203-convert-gpt-disk-mbr-disk.html

 

[sharma]

Yes disk 5 is the hard drive and yes the lowest drive in the PW shot

 

[AddRAM]

OK, you should be good to start then.

Start by leaving the small EFI partition and deleting the 931 GB partition, then create a primary partition out of the unallocated space and format it NTFS.

We are going to leave the small EFI partition because the drive is GPT and you may not know how to or want to convert it to a MBR drive.

Although, in your 1st sentence you mention converting it, so I`m not sure what you want to do.

If you did want to convert it to MBR, I posted the tutorial earlier.

Do not forget to click Apply in the top left hand corner of PW or nothing gets done.

Give it a shot and get back to us.

 

[sharma]

Thanks for the help guys, all good.

 

[AddRAM]

Awesome, way to go. So you can use the external now ?

 

[sharma]

Yes I can all good.