Gatos

Formatting Guide

This manual describes typical formatting procedures for external
hard drives. Note that not all hard drives support all of the operating
systems or format types discussed.

35011673 ver.01

Tbale of Contents
What is Formatting? ........................................................................ 2
Format Types................................................................................... 2
Formatting Notes ............................................................................ 3
Formatting in NTFS.......................................................................... 4
Formatting with FAT32.................................................................... 8
Formatting with Mac OS Extended Format .................................... 10Mac OS X 10.5 and later ........................................................................................ 10
Mac OS X 10.3 to 10.4 ............................................................................................ 12
Mac OS X 10.0.4 to 10.2.8 ..................................................................................... 14

What is Formatting?
Formatting is anoperation that enables a hard disk to be used on your computer. This product comes
formatted with FAT32 and is plug and play for Windows, Mac OS 9, and Mac OS X 10.4 and later.

Format Types
There are several different format types, each compatible with different operating systems.

Caution

Some products may require formatting with a specific format type. Refer to the
manual supplied with theproduct to select the most suitable format.

NTFS file system
NTFS formatting is compatible with Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, and Server 2003. Mac OS X can read
this format but not write to it. It can handle files larger than 4 GB.
FAT32 file system
FAT32 formatting works with many operating systems including Windows and Mac OS, but it cannot
handle files larger than 4 GB.
Mac OS Extendedformat
This format is native to Mac OS X. It can handle files larger than 4 GB. It is not supported by Windows.
NTFS file system

FAT32 file system

Mac OS Extended
format

Windows 7/Vista/XP/2000/Server 2003

◎

○

×

Windows Me/98SE/98

×

○

×

Mac OS X 10.5 and later

△

○

◎

Mac OS X 10.4

△

○

◎

Mac OS X 10.3

△

○

◎

Mac OS X 10.2 andearlier

×

×

◎

Mac OS 9

×

▲

◎

◎ : Both reading and writing are supported.
○ : Both reading and writing are supported (cannot handle files larger than 4 GB).
△ : Only reading is supported. Writing is not supported.
▲ : Reading and writing are supported only when File Exchange is enabled. Also, use of two-byte
characters can cause the computer to stop or the file to fail to becopied normally.
× : Not supported.

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Formatting Guide

Formatting Notes
● Never reset or turn off the power switch of the computer during the formatting process.
This could result in damage to the disk or other problems. Proper operation cannot be guaranteed if
the format process was interrupted.
● Formatting will erase all data on the hard disk. Before formatting, back up anyimportant information on the hard disk.
The user is responsible for any data lost due to formatting of the hard disk.
Don’t format the wrong drive! Check the driveletter and partition name carefully. If you format the
wrong drive, all data on it will be lost.
Next The formatting procedure varies depending on how the drive will be used. Refer to the

pages below.
•

Formatting with NTFS･･････････････････････････････････ P 4

•

Formatting with FAT32･････････････････････････････････P 8

•

Formatting with Mac OS Extended Format･････････････････P 10

Formatting Guide

3

Formatting in NTFS
Follow the procedure below to format your drive with NTFS.
Caution

• Windows Me, 98SE, or 98, and Mac OS do not support NTFS. Use a different format such
as FAT32 with these...