If you can see it in Disk Management, just right-click on it and choose Format. You should get all of the available space. Dec 05, 2010 I am running 10.5.8 for my MacBook and I was wondering if anyone could let me know how I can format the WD Elements external hard drive for my computer. What does it mean if I do format my computer for it? Also is it okay if I just start to drag and drop files onto the hard drive? I am in terrible need for help. I have a 2TB external drive called 'WD My Passport for Mac' It's been over a year since I last used it on my iMac. Now, I am trying to use it on my MacBook Pro, and it lights up, its also recognized by my mac, I can see it on Disk Utility, but I can't open it. Hello, I just bought a Western Digital WD Elements 1.5 TB External hard drive, and I'm running a MacBook Pro with OS X Version 10.6.2. I'm wondering how I reformat the hard drive, which comes from the factory formatted for PC's.
Western Digital external hard drives are useful for storing and backing up files. However, you may have run into a problem trying to use your Western Digital hard drive with multiple operating systems. This is because you must format the drive with a specific file system before using it with a computer, and Windows and Mac computers run on different file systems. The only solution to making your hard drive compatible with a different operating system is to reformat the drive. This, however, erases all of the data on the drive.
Reformatting Your Western Digital in WindowsStep 1
Plug your Western Digital external hard drive into your computer using the USB cable that came with drive.
Step 2
Open the Computer Management utility by clicking 'Start,' 'Control Panel,' 'System and Security,' 'Administrative Tools' and 'Computer Management.'
Step 3
Click 'Disk Management' from the left navigation pane.
Step 4
Right-click the Western Digital drive and select 'Format.'
Step 5
Select a'NTFS' from the 'File System' drop-down menu. This is the file system that is compatible with your Windows computer.
Click the 'Start' button at the bottom of the dialog box and the Western Digital hard drive is reformatted.
Reformatting Your Western Digital On a MacStep 1
Plug your Western Digital external hard drive into your computer using the USB cable that came with drive.
Step 2
Open Disk Utility, which is located in 'Applications' and then 'Utilities.'
Step 3
Click the Western Digital Drive from the left pane and then click the 'Erase' tab at the top of the dialog box.
Step 4
Click the 'Format' drop-down menu and select 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled).'
Click the 'Erase' button in the lower-right corner and the Western Digital drive is reformatted for use with your Mac.
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IsWD Elements Compatible with Mac?
And therelated question can you use your WD Elements on a Mac?
The answeris yes. Your WD Elements drive can work great on your Mac.
But thereare a couple of things you need to know and do to get it set up just fine.
You’lllearn here the things you need to know about using your WD Elements for Mac.
And some ofthe potential pitfalls.
Plugging in your WD Elements USB Cable into your Mac
Your WD Elements portable hard drive has a USB 3.0 type A connection to your Mac.
Why is thatimportant?
Is your Macan iMac 2017 or later? Or MacBook Pro 2016 or newer?
How To Format Wd Elements For Mac Mojave
Or MacBookAir 2018?
If youranswer is yes then your Mac will have a USB C (Thunderbolt) port on it.
You’ll beable to use your WD Elements drive. But you will need an adaptor to plug theUSB cable from your Elements drive into your Mac.
Theseadaptor cables are easy to get from Amazon.
And shouldyour Mac be an older Mac with USB 2.0.
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Yourfine.
The USBcable provided will fit. And your WD elements drive will work at USB 2.0 speedto match your Mac.
You’ve Plugged in and WD Elements not Showing up on Mac?![]()
You’ve loggedin and connected up your WD Elements external hard drive on your Mac. You wereexpecting to see the drive icon on the desktop.
But it’snot there?
The firstthing to check is your Finder Window Preferences.
Open up afinder window. Go to preferences.
In thefinder preferences pop up window be sure you’ve checked the ‘Hard Drive’ and ‘ExternalDrive’ boxes.
Then yourWD Elements external drive’s icon should appear.
What if your WD Elements is Still not Showing up on Mac?Using Your WD Elements On Mac?Wd Elements Instructions
Your WDElements drive is bus powered.
What doesthat mean?
It meansthat your Elements drive takes its power from your Mac. Your USB cable bothpowers your Elements drive. And transfers your documents backwards andforwards.
Great. Becauseyou don’t have to worry about carrying another power plug and its cable aroundwith you. Particularly when you take your Elements drive out and about withyour Mac.
Wd Elements 2tb
But becauseyour WD Elements drive gets its power from your Mac check your Mac is chargedenough. Firefox for mac 10.7.5. Or plug in your Mac so that your Mac doesn’t run out of power part waythrough a large transfer of files.
Is Your WDElements Drive Read Only on your Mac?
When shipped to you your Western Digital Elements drive is in a format called NTFS. NTFS is a PC format that a Windows PC uses. Your Mac can see and read your NTFS Elements drive.
But whenyou want to put documents on the drive, or update any files on the drive yourMac says no. You can only read your Elements external hard drive.
Don’t fretyou can change the formatting. Anti virus protection for mac. Byreformatting your WD Elements for your Mac.
How do IFormat WD Elements for Mac?
To use yourWD Elements drive on your Mac you need your Elements drive in HFS+ format. Thisformatting is also known as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) file system. Don’t worry about the name.
Just know that this is a file system that your Mac uses for a Time Machine backup.
And if youwant to copy and paste files.
Or drag anddrop files from your Mac onto your WD Elements drive.
It’s theformat you use when you want to use your WD Elements drive just for yourMac. Because a Windows PC can’t see aHFS+ drive when it’s plugged in.
To set upyour WD Elements drive to work on your Mac you’ll need to format it for Mac.
You’ll find my article on how you format the WD Elements hard drive here.
Click overand in a few minutes you’ll have the formatting all done.
How Can YouUse Your WD Elements Drive without Reformatting?
Formattingwill erase any documents you have on your WD Elements drive. So if you’ve put files on there from yourWindows PC. And really what you want to do is use the drive without changinganything on there.
Reformat Wd Easystore For Mac
There issoftware you can use that leaves your Elements drive in NTFS formatting. Butmakes it read and writeable from your Mac.
It’s theoption to choose when you mainly use your WD Elements drive on your Windows PC.And sometimes you use your Elements drive on your Mac.
Using YourWD Elements Drive on Your Mac and a PC
Yes you canuse your WD Elements drive for both a Mac and a PC if you want.
And particularlyif you want to use for both without using special software. And its easy to do.
You justconnect up your WD Elements drive to your Mac and format it to ExFAT.
There aresome articles around on the web suggesting FAT32. And yes you can set your Mac to format yourElements drive to FAT32. FAT32 is compatible with Mac and Windows. But thesedays the FAT32 file system is outdated, not as sturdy and has file sizerestrictions.
ExFAT is freelyread and writable by both your Mac and Windows PC. Both operating systems cansee an ExFAT file system. And use the files, photos, movies, music, in fact anyfiles that are on there.
You can find out how to Format your WD Elements external hard drive for Mac and PC using my article here.
Your WDElements Drive Not Working on Mac?
Havingproblems with your Western Digital Elements drive working. And then not workingon your Mac?
1. When you formatted your WD Elements did you check that the format scheme was ‘GUID Partition Map’? You’ll have problems with formatting the drive without setting the scheme right. Because NTFS is set up differently. And a set up hang over from NTFS will mean odd problems with your Elements drive.
How To Format Wd Elements For Mac And Pc
2. You should try repairing your Elements drive in Disk Utility using the First Aid option. That may solve your problem.
If thedrive is in a poor state First Aid may well tell you to erase the drive.
Which meansstarting from scratch and loosing the files on there.
3. Did you download Drive Utilities from the Western Digital site onto your Mac?
Yes, DriveUtilities allows you to run a check on your WD Elements drive. And you can seeif the software reports any errors on the drive.
But didyour problems with the drive show up after you downloaded this software?
Check thatyour version of the Western Digital software is compatible with your Mac’soperating system.
You could haveproblems with your Mac OS clashing with the WD Drive Utilities software.
If you’reone of those having problems with your WD Elements drive working and then not.And for no real reason you can see. Then uninstall the Western DigitalUtilities.
You can dothat by using the WD Uninstaller in your Application’s folder.
How To Format Wd Elements Se For Mac And Pc
And your onand off issues with your WD Elements drive should go away.
Why won’t MyWD Elements Drive Backup?
Having problemswith your Time Machine backups failing to your WD elements drive? This seems another type of conflict with theWD Disk Utilities software.
How To Format Wd Elements For Mac
Check thesoftware version your using. Is it for your version of Mac OS?
Tryuninstalling the WD Disk Utilities. Then see if your Time Machine Backup issuesdisappear.
Last Words
Yes, WDElements is basic storage for your Mac. And it usually works great on Mac. Butif you have problems use my tips here. And have your WD Elements for Mac andlose your issues.
You candiscover other articles on the site all about your WD Elements drive.
Why notcheck them out.
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