#Will an external hard drive formatted for mac work on pc how to#
#Will an external hard drive formatted for mac work on pc install#

#Will an external hard drive formatted for mac work on pc install#

Choose where you want to install Windows. When prompted with a choice of Types of Installation, choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) for Windows 10 or Custom (advanced) and then Drive options (advanced) for Windows 7. Note that Windows is not actually being installed, so donвЂ™t worry if you donвЂ™t have a product key (if prompted, select the box for no product key).ДЇollow the next steps to choose your desired version of Windows and accept the terms. Select your desired language and time, and click Next.Д¬lick Install now and wait while Windows completes the setup procedures. Do so - you may see a message that says Windows is loading files. If not, youвЂ™ll see a message that says Press any key to boot. The Windows startup app should launch automatically. Insert the Windows 10 or Windows 7 startup DVD or make sure your bootable USB drive is plugged in.

#Will an external hard drive formatted for mac work on pc how to#

HereвЂ™s how to format your primary hard drive on Windows 10 or 7: Now that you have either the startup DVD or the USB, youвЂ™re ready to format your drive. Windows 7: Download the Windows 7 OS and then the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool here.ДЇor either Windows 10 or 7, follow the instructions to create the bootable USB drive. Windows 10: Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool here. Make sure you have an external USB (also called a thumb drive or flash drive) ready. If not, youвЂ™ll need to create a bootable Windows USB drive. If you have a Windows 10 or Windows 7 startup DVD, you can skip the next paragraph. Note that this process will delete the OS and all files, but it wonвЂ™t permanently erase them.

That means your primary drive wonвЂ™t be in use, so weвЂ™re able to work on it. To get around that, weвЂ™ll run Windows from an installation DVD or a USB drive. You canвЂ™t format the primary drive while itвЂ™s running, for the same reason that you canвЂ™t repair a car engine while driving. Your C drive (C:) is your primary drive where the operating system (OS) is located. How to format a primary drive (C:) on Windows But itвЂ™s a little different if youвЂ™re formatting the primary drive, a secondary internal drive, or an external hard drive. Formatting a hard drive on Windows is largely the same whether youвЂ™re using Windows 10 or 7.