Windows 10: Do I have to format my external hard drive if it is already in NTFS and contains my...

Before creating a backup :

Question - My external hard drive is already in NTFS and contains some of my personal data. Do I have to format my external hard drive before creating a backup?

:)

 

Format external backup drive for NTFS

I purchased an external backup drive made by Verbatim. when I try to do a full system backup from Windows 10, I get the message that I can't backup to this drive because it is not formatted for NTFS. How do I format this drive for NTFS?

 

external hard drive

Hi Chrpee,

If you can't find external hard drive on Disk management than the next step is using the diskpart via command line, please follow the steps below:-

On the keyboard hit ((Windows logo key + R key)) than type ((CMD))

Now the windows command line will appear, the next steps is to type ((diskpart))

After that type ((list disk)) to show you the list of hard disks with partitions

If you found your external hard drive one of the list than you need to type ((select disk number)), note: the number is a disk number

Once you selected the hard disk or partitions than type ((clean))

than type ((create partition primary))

than type ((select partition 1))

than type ((active))

than type ((format fs=ntfs quick))

than type ((assign))

last type ((exit))

Check if the external hard drive appeared, if not please see the link below for more info and let me know if you need any assist

https://uk.pcmag.com/dvd-burners/120624/what-to...

 

Format external hard drive

Hello Lilly, hope this message finds you well.

1. The first method is to format the external hard drive from File Explorer:

Press Windows + X buttons together and find File Explorer

Tap on This PC to check if the external hard drive is detected

Right click on the external hard drive and tap on Format

Choose the format (NTFS, FAT32) and tap on Start

Once the format is done, click on OK

2. The second method is to format the external hard drive through Disk Management:

Select the Start button and open Computer Management.

Open Control Panel - System and Security - Administrative Tools, and double-click on Computer Management.

Select Disk Management on the left pane under Storage.

Right-click the volume that you’d like to format, and then select Format.

If you want to format the volume with the default settings, select ok, in the Format dialog box, and then select ok again.

IMPORTANT: Before formatting the external hard drive, take back up of all your data because this operation can result in losing important data.

____

Steve