Computer Nerds i need some help....

So it sounds like your hardrive set itself up for an apple and that makes it not work on a PC. I hac this problem once in college, I dont remember exactly how I fixed it, but it invovled changing a setting on the hard drive. This did not reformat the drive.

Like I said, I dont remember exactly what the exact change was, but if you google around Im sure youll find it.

You just need to reformat the drive, is there anything on the drive right now? If you do, add those files to your computer (if you can) or find a friend with a pc and transfer the files, because you need to completely erase your hard drive.


Reformatting is super easy on mac, go to disk utility (use spotlight (command + space bar) to find it, easiest way).

You'll open up disk utility and you'll see your drive on the left hand side, click the top tab (will have the brand/name of your drive, not the name you selected)

Go to Partition and you'll see a drop down that says "current" and change that to "1 partition". The name it and select the format as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)". Hit "options" and make sure its GUID partition table and then hit apply and BOOM you can add to your drive.

Check out this video if you need more help/a walk through, its for time machine but it does the same setup i just explained and might be better than following my instructions. Refer to time 1:42 - 3:20 for the walkthrough.

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/774616/How-to-Format-An-External-Hard-Drive-for-Mac

Oh and to explain why you're having this issue...

Windows uses a different format of hard drives for its operating system, just how it works. Because of this, you have to reformat for macintosh. let me know if you have any other questions.

Too bad osx never took on more file system formats like other unix operating systems did. I love how my linux distro can access my windows file system on the same hard drive.

daOysterToo bad osx never took on more file system formats like other unix operating systems did. I love how my linux distro can access my windows file system on the same hard drive.

linux elitist.

L_Blinux elitist.

Nah, I still primarily use windows. Just started playing linux since our computer science lab computers are running linux distros at the university I attend.

daOysterNah, I still primarily use windows. Just started playing linux since our computer science lab computers are running linux distros at the university I attend.

lol its just android with a keyboard and an accessible OS.

I think its easier for a new user than windows or apple once you get the very basics down.

Be careful with drive reformats. If it is internal instead of external don't mess around with original partition. (windows)

Eheath answered the question well tho