seagate external hard drive

[2macman]

I just got a Seagate expansion external 500 gb hard drive.

All I want is drop and drag to save files.
Chat lines said this was possible. Easily. So I got the Seagate.

When it first opened up, it asked if I wanted to use it as a Time Machine backup. Not really. I just want drop and drag file saving capability.

Now, it just sits there. I cannot drop and drag.

How to I enable it, or format it (I am not a techie) so that I can drop and drag?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

You need to format the HDD with HFS+ (Mac OS Extended) via Disk Utility, as the HDD is most likely using NTFS as file system (format).

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
• Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB

NTFS (Windows NT File System)

• Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
• Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
  [*]To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)
  
• Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx 33USD).
• Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard, but is not advisable, due to instability.
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
• Maximum file size: 16 TB
• Maximum volume size: 256TB

HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended)

• Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
• Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner backups of Mac internal hard drive.
• To Read/Write HFS+ from Windows, Install MacDrive
• To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
• Maximum file size: 8EiB
• Maximum volume size: 8EiB

exFAT (FAT64)

• Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
• Not all Windows versions support exFAT. See disadvantages.
• exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
• Maximum file size: 16 EiB
• Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB

Format Your Hard Drive Using Disk Utility

Using Disk Utility - Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks
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[2macman]

reformat external hard drive

Thanks.

What I did while waiting for an answer was I plugged it into my other mac, and when it asked if I wanted to use it as Time Machine, this time I said Yes.
And it erased everything. And formatted if for Mac, I presume.
So, all is well, I think, with this hard drive.

I have an older 250 GB Seagate hard drive. Is it possible to partition it for half Windows and half Mac?

Thanks.