Formatting a drive for use with Windows 7, 8 & 10

Before you can use a new external drive with Windows 7, 8 or 10 you will need to format it (unless it states it is pre-formatted). There are several options which we will look at to help you choose the correct format for you and show you how to ready the disk for use.

Step 1. Right-Click on the Windows icon in the lower left-hand corner and select Disk Management

microsofthdformat_1

Step 2. If you wish to format or remove files from an existing hard drive right-click on the Disk Drive you wish to ‘clean’ and select Delete Volume. If you have a new Disk Drive you wish to format – go directly to step 3.

right-click-delete-volume

Step 3.  Select the Disk Drive you wish to format and right click and select New Simple Volume.

right-click-new-simple-volume

Step 4. A Wizard will open to help you complete this process, so click Next.

click-next

Step 5. The Wizard will ask you to Specify Volume Size, this will be automatically set based on the Disk Drive size so click Next.

click-next-again

Step 6. The Wizard will then ask you to Assign a Drive Letter or Path – use the default suggested by the Wizard if you are unsure, then click Next.

Selecting Drive Letter - Formatting Disk For Windows

Step 7. The Wizard will then ask you to Format Partition. Select NTFS if you wish to use the Disk Drive for Windows only computers to read, or select exFAT for cross platform compatibility (with Mac and Other operating Systems). You can also identify and name the drive to something more meaningful by changing the Volume Label – like “My Videos and Images”, then click Next.

Select NTFS for Windows only or exFAT for cross platform compatibility and click next - Windows Disk Formatting

Step 8. You are now ready to begin formatting your new Disk Drive, click Finish to start formatting.

Click Finish to start formatting your disk for Windows

Once the above process is complete your drive will be ready to use.

Purchase a new external hard drive for your PC, see the range on sale at 7dayshop.com – Click HERE

For more information on Drive File System Compatibility across different Operating Systems Click HERE

To See how to format a new drive for use with an Apple Mac click HERE


BUY YOURSELF AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE!

Purchase a new external hard drive for your PC, see the range on sale at 7dayshop.com – Click HERE

Buy An External Hard Drive From 7dayshop.com


FORMAT YOUR NEW HARD DRIVE FOR USE!

See how to format a new drive for use with an Apple Mac click HERE

How To Format External Drives For Use With Apple Macs

 

Summary
Formatting a drive for use with Windows 7, 8 & 10
Article Name
Formatting a drive for use with Windows 7, 8 & 10
Description
Before you can use a new external drive with Windows 7, 8 or 10 you will need to format it (unless it states it is pre-formatted). There are several options which we will look at to help you choose the correct format for you and show you how to ready the disk for use.
Author
Publisher Name
7dayshop.com Limited
Publisher Logo