Format external HD?

[dextertangocci]

Hi everyone,

I've had a 250GB lacie external HD for a while now, and I've used it just for my iTunes folder. It's formatted in FAT32, but I want to reformat it to a format that is more compatable with OSX, because FAT32 is apparently not a good format, and doesn't allow a file size above 4GB's (even though my iTunes library is 100GB ) and is slower with OSX.

I went into disk utility, but I don't see an option to format it, only to partition it, which I don't want to do Why is disk utility so confusing????

Thanks,

-dextertangocci

 

[livingfortoday]

If you click on the disk on the left, there should be the option to "Erase" right next to "Partition" on the right there.

 

[dextertangocci]

Ok, so that's how you must do it. Thanks

Which format should I put it in?

BTW, why does everyone say that ther file size in a FAT32 drive can't be bigger than 4GB, when my iTunes library is about 100GB?

 

[thewhitehart]

No, it means individual files can't be more than 4GB. The drive or partition itself may be considerably larger.

 

[dextertangocci]

No, it means individual files can't be more than 4GB. The drive or partition itself may be considerably larger.

I know, but my iTunes folder (which is a SINGLE folder) is 100GB

 

[Sherman Homan]

Your folder can be 100 gigs, the limit is the file size. You can't have a single file that is bigger than 4 gigs on a FAT32 formatted drive. Not many music files would be that large!

 

[dextertangocci]

Oh, ok, thanks!

But I still remember putting an iMovie project onto it that was 7GB (or is that not a single file?)

 

[Sherman Homan]

I am curious, if you are using a Mac why was the drive formatted in FAT32? That is a format that even Windoze doesn't use as much in these days of modern times. And now that I think about it, didn't FAT32 had a volume limit of 32 gigs? Is your drive really formatted in FAT32? or is it NTFS? Or is the Mac not bothered by such silliness? Report back!

If you reformat, choose Mac OS X Extended (Journaled) as the default, that is the way it should be.

 

[dextertangocci]

I am curious, if you are using a Mac why was the drive formatted in FAT32? That is a format that even Windoze doesn't use as much in these days of modern times. And now that I think about it, didn't FAT32 had a volume limit of 32 gigs? Is your drive really formatted in FAT32? or is it NTFS? Or is the Mac not bothered by such silliness? Report back!

If you reformat, choose Mac OS X Extended (Journaled) as the default, that is the way it should be.

It is definitely FAT32. But it is reformating now. Thanks for the advice