External harddisk issue

Question

PSilhy Author

Level 1

8 points

External harddisk issue

Hi,

how can I solve a problem with new harddisk (WD Elements - 750GB - WDBUZG7500ABK-WESN)

After connecting to Macbook Pro it was not able to use it. System needed to erase or devide the harddisk.

(I wanted to use it with TimeMachine for system backup)

But when I started to erase/devide the disk, the system stopped with error message:

"MediaKit says: there is no free space in the disk (Volume) for required operation"

Can you please tell me, how to format this external disk for use with Mac / TimeMachine ?

Thank you,

Petr

MacBook Pro with Retina display, iOS 11.1

Posted on Nov 15, 2017 5:00 AM

Reply

Answer 1

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Nov 15, 2017 7:22 AM in response to PSilhy

Hi,

You used this process? Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility > select the HD on the left > click on Erase > select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) GUID > click on Erase > wait for it to finish and quit Disk Utility.

Reply

Answer 2

PSilhy Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2017 7:40 AM in response to tjk

Hi,

yes - exactly. I used the process you described.

Unfortunately, this process ends with the error - MediaKit says: there is no free space in the disk (Volume) for required operation.

Reply

Answer 3

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Nov 15, 2017 7:47 AM in response to PSilhy

Just wanted to make sure. Sorry, but I've never run across that before. I would try formatting it on a Windows machine (exFAT or FAT32), then coming back to the Mac and trying again.

Reply

Answer 4

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Nov 15, 2017 7:49 AM in response to PSilhy

Found this, sounds promising: https://www.reddit.com/r/applehelp/comments/40yvjh/disk_utility_fails_to_erasefo rmat_an_external_hdd/

Reply