how to reformat external HD from APFS to Mac OS Extended (Journaled)?

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how to reformat external HD from APFS to Mac OS Extended (Journaled)?

I am trying to change format on a 2T Lacie portable HD from APFS to Mac OS Extended (Journaled). This is to use it as a backup HD for large Photos libraries pursuant to an instructive discussion on this forum.

But when in Disk Utility, I click on the 2T HD, and then on Erase, I only get 4 options to format and all of them are APFS formats, which is how disk is already formatted.

Don’t know if makes a difference, but the disk in partitioned, and contains backups and photos and other materials. I have saved all these elsewhere, expecting that reformatting will erase all of them.

So, how to I reformat disk as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)?

Thanks.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.4

Posted on Jul 24, 2021 1:24 PM

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Answer 1

ArmandoWyo Author

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88 points

Jul 24, 2021 1:31 PM in response to Eau Rouge

That's exactly what I said that I did. I researched how to format and change format before posting. But as I said, when click on erase, I only can choose one of 4 APFS formats and Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is not an option. Can't choose what menu does not list.

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Answer 2

ArmandoWyo Author

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88 points

Jul 24, 2021 1:46 PM in response to Eau Rouge

Found way to pick Mac OS Extended Journaled, but then when clicked Erase, I get this popup:

Unmounting disk

The volume on disk3 couldn’t be unmounted because it is in use by process 57588 (photoanalysisd)

Couldn’t open device. : (-69877)

Operation failed…

Don't know what process 57588 (photoanalysisd) could be. Not using anything on HD

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Answer 3

ArmandoWyo Author

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88 points

Jul 24, 2021 2:18 PM in response to Eau Rouge

That's for sure. but I've tried again and again, and I keep getting popup that Operation failed b/c “disk couldn’t be unmounted because it is in use by process 57588 (photoanalysisd).”

I got past the 1st mess-up that didn't give MacOS Extended (Journaled), and see I'm on correct page but now, don’t know what that means, nor understand why disk has to be unmounted to erase?

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Answer 4

ArmandoWyo Author

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88 points

Jul 24, 2021 3:19 PM in response to dialabrain

Yes, I have 3 or 4 Photos libraries there. But Photos app is off? Still I can delete the Photos libraries and try again. I have them on another external HD as well. The copies on this disk were going to be deleted anyway

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Answer 5

ArmandoWyo Author

Level 1

88 points

Jul 24, 2021 3:41 PM in response to dialabrain

SUCCESS. Thanks for patience in sticking with me. dragged Photos and even iPhoto libraries to trash and emptied trash on MBP, and I was then able to erase and reformat.

Now, I can backup MBP and the external HD that has photos, libraries etc that had been on 2 T.

Managing backups and storage not easy, but necessary. I had 2 other external HDs fail in past 9 months and all photos on one lost forever.

Thanks again,

armando

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