Hey everyone,
I am trying to repair my PC after the hard drive crashed. However, I only have spare MacBook's Pro HDD (internal and same type as the one that crashed in a PC); however, in order to install Windows system on it I think I am suppose to format it to NTFS or FAT32 first. How do i do that on a Mac?
MacBook Pro
The Mac is not capable of formatting the disk to NTFS
You can use Disk Utility to format it to FAT32.
Allan
The Mac is not capable of formatting the disk to NTFS
You can use Disk Utility to format it to FAT32.
Allan
Ok, so how do I do that since "Erase" tab in Disk Utility doesn't give me an option to change the format.. Actually all I can do under "Erase" is erase free Space..
If it is the system disk for the Mac then you must boot from another device. The usual recommendation is to boot from the install DVD for the Mac to allow the disk to be formatted.
Allan
Why you do not install the HDD into your PC and later format it during the install of Windows ?
I believe Win should be able to format the HDD from the DVD. Or you could if necessary Format it with a Mac as FAT or exFAT (this could go over the 4GB limit of Fat) but I have no idea how this Formatting could be seen from Windows.
yes I could, but I don't have working DVD drive on that PC. And since I am using MacBook Pro myself I thought I could use its spare HDD, install Windows on it and then just put that HDD in a PC since it's the same type. Not sure if that's doable tho..
In other words if I understand well you wish to install Windows on a MBP and then remove its HDD.
Never heard about this possibility.
You could use the Windows install DVD, that is if it is Windows 7, to install Windows on your Mac, No Boot Camp needed, and then move the drive to a PC. But then Windows is very depended on the hardware it is originally it is installed on. So after installin it on your Mac it probably wouldn't boot on the PC.
You are better off getting an external DVD drive and another hard drive and leave your Mac alone.
seilas wrote:
yes I could, but I don't have working DVD drive on that PC. And since I am using MacBook Pro myself I thought I could use its spare HDD, install Windows on it and then just put that HDD in a PC since it's the same type. Not sure if that's doable tho..
could you please elaborate on your answer? What I am trying to do is to install Windows 7 on a Macbook Pro and then have that HDD be used by a PC. All I managed to do so far is to run and install Mac OS X on it and now I am not sure what's my next step suppose to be and if my idea is doable at all.
lol yes, I thought I could once having Windows 7 installed on it remove the HDD and use it on a PC but I guess it's not that good idea
Yes....It is possible. What you want to do it on your MacBook Pro download GParted Live. This is a software that can reformat a hard drive to a different format. You will need to burn it to a disc, a DVD-R or DVD+R, once it is done, put the internal hard drive into your computer, like you just replaced it not wiring it with cables. Start your computer and then boot from disc. once you let it load it will ask what language. Find the language you what, which should be 33 for US English. It will then give you a different menu with 1-4 and 0. type 0. after you have done that it will take you to the GParted desktop. A window will pop up and you will select the biggest partition. After you are have chosen the partition you will be asked what size you want, go to system file select FAT32. it will partition the drive and you are done. Exit the desktop by pressing the button on the top left and it will ask, Shut off, restart...etc. Select restart. It will then eject the disk drive, or cd. remove the cd and then insert the OS cd install the operating system and enjoy.
Can I use Mac's internal HDD in PC?
