So in a nutshell, just format all the partitions (however many you choose) to FAT32 when doing the Terminal code stuff. Another thing to note is that the order of your partitions established in step one determine the order the partitions will be mounting when connecting your external hard drive to your computer. Once it's all working, go back and use OS X's Disk Utility to reformat one of the FAT32 partitions to HFS+ (or extended journaled, if you prefer). You can avoid the annoyance noted in step number nine (doesn't automatically mount the HFS+ partition) if you just format all three partitions (or two if you're not adding NTFS) to FAT32 first (since those automatically mount so great). Here's my real contribution to improving the method in the previous hint. (Control Panel » Administration Tools » Computer Management » Disk Management.) Finally, use a Windows machine to reformat the remaining VOLUME you formatted to FAT32 to NTFS instead. Then, after step seven in the first hint, insert a similar-looking step - put 2s3 at end of command instead. To add NTFS to the mix from the previous hint, in the first step, just divide things up into three parts instead of two.
If needed, print this hint, and then go to the above link for more help (and there's another link further down that may be of some help).
In this hint, I'll explain how to add NTFS to the mix, and note some significant improvements upon the previous hint's awesome efforts. NOTE: If the above steps do NOT resolve the problem, please back up your data and request a replacement using our online web form.This hint (from way back in 2003) is still the best I have come across in terms of explaining how to partition HFS+ and FAT32 on the same external hard drive.
Some older operating systems must have a patch installed before they can use the exFAT file system. NOTE: MacOS 10.6.2 or higher is required for exFAT file system. NOTE: exFAT can be used on flash drives or memory cards to transfer files larger than 4GB. NOTE: exFAT is used on SDXC card (64GB and higher). When finished, the drive will be formatted and repartitioned successfully.
Instructions below are for 10.13.x (High Sierra)ġ. Select this capacity.Ħ. Verify Volume Format is set to MS-DOS file system or exFAT, Scheme is set to “Master Boot Record” ( Do NOT select GUID Partition Map) then click Erase. Select the capacity of the drive respective to the one containing the device you wish to format then click the Erase tab.Įxample: If the drive is called "NO NAME", directly above that, you should see the drive capacity of "XXXX". On the left side of the window are the drives connected to the computer. Click the Applications folder - if using a Finder Window Applications will be in the left side menu.ĥ. Double-click on Macintosh HD - or in the Finder menu click File > New Finder WindowĢ. Instructions below are for 10.11.x (El Capitan) and 10.12.x (Sierra)ġ. WARNING: Formatting will erase all data on the device.