How to format a hard drive for use on a PC or Mac computer

To format a hard drive before you start using it in Windows, use the Disk Management utility; on a Mac, use Disk Utility.
Houston Chronicle

How to Format an OS X Terminal Hard Disk

Mac OS X Mountain Lion gives users several ways to access the Terminal and three common options for formatting a hard drive. You can launch Terminal within Mac OS X to format hard drives currently not ...
CNET

Knowledge Base: Mac OS 9 disk drivers after format; more

In Knowledge Base article #107285, Apple notes that Mac OS 9 disk drivers are required after reformatting a disk. Otherwise, the Startup Disk preference pane in Mac ...
CNET

So you're setting up an external hard drive. Formatting facts for Windows and Mac

Mounting an external hard drive isn't as simple as plugging it in. We'll walk you through some decisions you need to make. Jason Cipriani is based out of beautiful Colorado and has been covering ...
Ars Technica

Pick the right file system for your Mac’s internal or external storage

When you put a new hard drive in your Mac—or connect an external one using FireWire or USB—you need to decide how to partition the drive and what file system to ...
PC Magazine

FAT32 vs. ExFAT vs. NTFS: Which Format Is Best for Your Storage Drive?

When you're reformatting a drive, memory card, or flash drive you need to pick a file format. If you see FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS, but don't know which one to pick, here's what you need to know. A file ...