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Unsure about which drives and volumes to format using Disk Utility

C

Chip Boy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 16, 2022
16
0
Hello everyone,

• I am using Disk Utility to format a brand new Toshiba external hard drive.

• After selecting the option "Show All Devices", a new volume shows up just below the name of the disk, as if it was a sub-folder.

• Which of the two is the one I should format? Both? Only one? Is there an specific order that I should follow in case I should format the two?


I enclose an image so you can have a better idea of the problem.

Thanks for your help and advice.

Rainbowlight

External Hard Drive.png
 
Last edited:
"it is always the first icon on the External list that I should choose in order to format it. In my case, it should be TOSHIBA EXTERNAL_USB. Is that right?"

Yes.
You want to click on "the topmost line" for the device.
Then click the erase button.

My recommendations:
Is this a platter based drive (NOT an SSD)?
If so, I suggest the following:
- if it's to be used for a tm backup, or will be bootable, erase to APFS, GUID partition format (if you're using a "late-model" OS, you didn't say)
- if it's to be used for DATA ONLY (not bootable or a tm backup), I recommend that you format it to HFS+ (Mac OS extended with journaling enabled, GUID partition format).
 
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Fishrrman said:
"it is always the first icon on the External list that I should choose in order to format it. In my case, it should be TOSHIBA EXTERNAL_USB. Is that right?"

Yes.
You want to click on "the topmost line" for the device.
Then click the erase button.

My recommendations:
Is this a platter based drive (NOT an SSD)?
If so, I suggest the following:
- if it's to be used for a tm backup, or will be bootable, erase to APFS, GUID partition format (if you're using a "late-model" OS, you didn't say)
- if it's to be used for DATA ONLY (not bootable or a tm backup), I recommend that you format it to HFS+ (Mac OS extended with journaling enabled, GUID partition format).
Click to expand...
My operating system is Monterey (version 12.4)

The drive is a platter-based HDD Toshiba Canvio, with 1 TB of space. It comes with a NTFS default format and the default "partition table" (I am quoting verbatim from my French-language Mac) is MBR.

I am not sure HFS+ is among the choices offered by Disk Utility. I have read elsewhere that Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is also a good choice.

I enclose two images of my screen, so you can see the choice of formats for yourself.


Capture I.png


Capture II.png
 
Fishrrman said:
"it is always the first icon on the External list that I should choose in order to format it. In my case, it should be TOSHIBA EXTERNAL_USB. Is that right?"

Yes.
You want to click on "the topmost line" for the device.
Then click the erase button.

My recommendations:
Is this a platter based drive (NOT an SSD)?
If so, I suggest the following:
- if it's to be used for a tm backup, or will be bootable, erase to APFS, GUID partition format (if you're using a "late-model" OS, you didn't say)
- if it's to be used for DATA ONLY (not bootable or a tm backup), I recommend that you format it to HFS+ (Mac OS extended with journaling enabled, GUID partition format).
Click to expand...
Hello again,

Thank you so much for your help.

Even when I select GUID in the Scheme menu, neither HFS nor HFS + appear as possible choices.

Again, I enclose an image of the screen.


Capture III.png
 
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