Formatting HDD

*samcuk* · 16-07-2012, 4:26 PM

Quick one.. If I format a windows HDD using a caddy using Mac disk utility will I be able to put it back in the laptop and install windows? Can't do it on the laptop as I can't get past the blue screen. Checked online and the only option is to format.

bpsmith · 16-07-2012, 10:14 PM

You need an NTFS driver in order to format a drive for use in Windows. Paragon should do the trick.

dejongj · 17-07-2012, 6:33 PM

Not certain whether you can boot from an ExFat drive but you could format it like that.

Alternatively you could format as fat32.

Then once windows is installed you can always convert to ntfs afterwards.

*samcuk* · 17-07-2012, 6:48 PM

Not sure what I can do now as he's bought it from some dodgy shop and I need to install XP back onto the formatted HDD but it has a bios password which he doesn't know... I've been on google to see if I can install xp onto an external HDD with a Mac but I can't see any way that doesn't look way too complicated. Anyone know how? He bought the laptop second hand from a local shop who don't know the bios password either!

dante01 · 17-07-2012, 7:18 PM

This may be of assistance:
How to clear an unknown BIOS or CMOS password.

16-07-2012, 4:26 PM	#1
samcuk Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Rotherham Thanks: Gave 3, Got 8 Posts: 176	Formatting HDD Advertisement Want to Advertise? Quick one.. If I format a windows HDD using a caddy using Mac disk utility will I be able to put it back in the laptop and install windows? Can't do it on the laptop as I can't get past the blue screen. Checked online and the only option is to format.
	Quote

16-07-2012, 10:14 PM	#2
bpsmith Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Thanks: Gave 21, Got 621 Posts: 6,915	You need an NTFS driver in order to format a drive for use in Windows. Paragon should do the trick.
	Quote

17-07-2012, 6:33 PM	#3
dejongj Eminent Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Whipsnade Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: Gave 2,080, Got 2,740 Posts: 23,964	Not certain whether you can boot from an ExFat drive but you could format it like that. Alternatively you could format as fat32. Then once windows is installed you can always convert to ntfs afterwards.
	Quote

17-07-2012, 6:48 PM	#4
samcuk Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Rotherham Thanks: Gave 3, Got 8 Posts: 176	Not sure what I can do now as he's bought it from some dodgy shop and I need to install XP back onto the formatted HDD but it has a bios password which he doesn't know... I've been on google to see if I can install xp onto an external HDD with a Mac but I can't see any way that doesn't look way too complicated. Anyone know how? He bought the laptop second hand from a local shop who don't know the bios password either!
	Quote

17-07-2012, 7:18 PM	#5
dante01 Eminent Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Thanks: Gave 131, Got 3,803 Posts: 20,535	This may be of assistance: How to clear an unknown BIOS or CMOS password.
	Quote

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Formatting HDD