Section 11- Formatting a Removable Disk

Formatting a Storage Device

1. Go to the Application folder and open the Utilities folder OR
   from the Go menu select Utlities
2. In the Utilities folder open Disk Utility.
3. Select the device you want to format on the left side.
4. Click the Erase button at the top.
5. Choose a Volume format
   • For flash drives that will be used in both Macs and PCs choose MS-DOS (FAT) as PCs cannot read Mac formatted disks.
   • For flash drives only used in Macs choose Mac OS Extended.
   • For hard drives that will typically be connected to your Mac most of the time choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled).  This will help rescue data in the case of a severe crash.
6. Enter a name for the device in the Name box.
7. Click the erase button.
8. A  warning box will ask “Are you sure you wish to erase the volume ‘your disk name’?  Click the Erase button.
9. In the Utilities folder double click on Disk Utility, it will be indicated by the following icon . By double clicking the previous icon you will open the Disk Utility dialogue box, pictured below.

Once the device is formatted, the icon will appear on the desktop with the name you gave it.

NOTE: If you are reformatting CD RW you will not be able to select the Volume Format or rename it by using the Name field. 

You cannot erase the boot drive, which is the one containing your system folder.