Help with formatting hard drive for Time Machine

[bobright]

So I am coming over from PC and have just got done copying over files from an NTFS external to my new iMac via Paragon.

I now want to erase and set up my external hard drive for a backup. How do I format it? Should I leave it NTFS since I have Paragon? Or is it better to format it first so it's friendlier for Mac (not sure how to do this)?

[Absrnd]

To use the drive as a timeMachine you have to format it to osx extended (journaled)

when you finish it will ask to use the drive as backup, or you can select it in the TM settings

[dwmc]

If you want to use TimeMachine, I would format is as 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'. Open /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility, select your external drive, select 'Erase', select 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)' as the Format and give it a name.

Obviously, be certain you're not doing this to your primary OS drive.

[bobright]

Originally Posted by Absrnd

To use the drive as a timeMachine you have to format it to osx extended (journaled)

when you finish it will ask to use the drive as backup, or you can select it in the TM settings

Image

Originally Posted by dwmc

If you want to use TimeMachine, I would format is as 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'. Open /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility, select your external drive, select 'Erase', select 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)' as the Format and give it a name.

Obviously, be certain you're not doing this to your primary OS drive.

I will try this thanks guys. I have another question what if I wanted to back up with CCC instead how should I format it then? I haven't fully decided yet on which way to go.