Yes, it is possible to reformat a Seagate hard drive. Reformatting a hard drive erases all data on the drive and allows you to set up a new file system and partition structure. This can be useful if you want to repurpose the drive, erase sensitive data, or troubleshoot drive issues. There are a few different ways to reformat a Seagate hard drive depending on your operating system and needs.
Why Would You Need to Reformat a Seagate Hard Drive?
There are several reasons you may want or need to reformat a Seagate hard drive:
- Repurposing the hard drive – If you want to use a Seagate drive for a different operating system or purpose than it is currently formatted for, reformatting allows you to reconfigure the drive.
- Changing file system – To change the file system on the drive from FAT32 to NTFS or vice versa, reformatting is required.
- Resolve corruption or crashes – If the drive is experiencing crashes, errors or corruption reformatting can help wipe the drive clean.
- Erase data – Reformatting erases all data on the drive, allowing you to securely erase sensitive data.
- Divide drive into partitions – Reformatting allows you to wipe the drive and partition it as needed.
- Troubleshoot problems – If you’re having issues with the drive, reformatting it may help resolve those problems.
In most cases, reformatting a drive is a fairly straightforward process using Windows, Mac or third-party formatting tools. But reformatting does mean you will lose all data on the drive, so make sure to back up anything you need before proceeding.
How to Reformat a Seagate Hard Drive on Windows
Windows computers allow you to reformat Seagate hard drives using the Disk Management utility. Here are the steps:
- Connect the Seagate drive to your Windows PC.
- Open the Disk Management tool. You can access this by right-clicking the Windows start menu and selecting “Disk Management”.
- Locate the Seagate drive in the list of disks at the bottom of the Disk Management window.
- Right-click on the volume or partition on the Seagate drive that you want to format and select “Delete Volume” to delete the existing partition.
- This will leave you with unallocated space on the drive, which you can then reformat.
- Right-click on the unallocated space on the Seagate drive and select “New Simple Volume”.
- Walk through the formatting wizard:
- Specify the size of the new volume.
- Assign a drive letter.
- Select NTFS or exFAT as the file system.
- Give the volume a name.
- Click “Finish” to complete the reformatting process.
The Disk Management utility allows you to reformat the Seagate drive to NTFS, exFAT, or FAT32 as needed. Be aware that formatting the drive erases all data – so make sure you have backups!
How to Reformat a Seagate Hard Drive on Mac
To reformat a Seagate hard drive on a Mac, you can use the Disk Utility application:
- Connect the Seagate drive to your Mac.
- Open Disk Utility (located in Applications > Utilities).
- Select the Seagate hard drive in the left sidebar in Disk Utility.
- Click the “Erase” tab.
- In the popup, give the drive a name, select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” as the format, and click “Erase” to start reformatting the drive.
This will completely erase the Seagate drive and reformat it to the Mac compatible HFS+ file system. Like with Windows, make absolutely certain you have backups before erasing the drive!
Selecting a File System
When reformatting your Seagate drive on Mac, you can choose which file system to use. Some options include:
- Mac OS Extended (Journaled) – The default, compatible option for Macs.
- APFS – Apple’s newer file system introduced in macOS High Sierra.
- exFAT – Cross-platform file system readable on Mac and Windows.
- FAT32 – Older file system compatible with Mac and Windows. Limits files sizes to 4GB.
In most cases, Mac OS Extended is the best option for a drive dedicated for Mac use. But exFAT may be preferable if you need to transfer files between Mac and Windows systems.
Using Third-Party Tools to Reformat
You can also use third-party formatting utilities to reformat Seagate drives if you prefer not to use the built-in Windows or Mac tools. Some top options include:
- GParted – Free, open source disk partitioning software that runs on Windows and Linux. Allows formatting drives to NTFS, exFAT, Ext4, and more.
- EaseUS Partition Master – User-friendly Windows partitioning utility with features like partition resizing, cloning, and formatting.
- MiniTool Partition Wizard – Allows reformatting drives from FAT32 to NTFS and more on Windows.
- Acronis Disk Director – Comprehensive drive management utility for Windows that enables reformatting in a graphical UI.
Third-party tools give you flexibility in how you reformat the drive. They allow features like non-destructive reformatting and offer a wider array of file system options. However, built-in operating system utilities like Disk Management and Disk Utility tend to be easier and faster for basic formatting tasks.
Steps to Reformat a Seagate Hard Drive
No matter which method you choose, the general steps to reformat a Seagate hard drive are:
- Backup data – Copy any important files or data from the Seagate drive to another location before erasing it.
- Delete partitions – Delete existing partitions and volumes on the Seagate drive to create unallocated space.
- Create new partition – Create a new primary partition that utilizes all unallocated space on the drive.
- Select file system – Choose the desired file system, like NTFS or HFS+ for the new partition.
- Assign drive letter/name drive – Give the formatted drive a drive letter (Windows) or name (Mac).
- Start formatting – Initialize the reformatting process, which erases and reconfigures the drive.
Some key things to keep in mind:
- Reformatting erases all data – make backups first
- FAT32 has file size limits, NTFS does not
- NTFS is ideal for Windows-only drives, exFAT for cross-platform
- On Mac, use Mac OS Extended or APFS for best performance
As long as you follow the steps, you should be able to successfully reformat your Seagate hard drive on either Windows or Mac.
Reasons Reformatting May Be Unsuccessful
In some cases, you may run into errors or issues when trying to reformat your Seagate drive. Common reasons include:
- Physical damage – Bad sectors or mechanical damage on the drive.
- Connection problems – Loosely plugged in cables or ports.
- Drive errors – I/O errors, read/write failures, or file system corruption.
- Power issues – Insufficient or inconsistent power supply.
- Incorrect steps – Errors made during the reformatting process.
If you run into errors trying to reformat, first ensure cables are tightly connected, try a different USB port, restart your computer, and carefully follow the steps again. If issues persist, it’s possible the Seagate drive has failed or been damaged physically and may need to be replaced.
Important Tips When Reformatting a Hard Drive
Keep these tips in mind when reformatting a Seagate or any other hard drive:
- Backup data first – Reformatting erases all data so copy important files elsewhere.
- Use the full capacity – Opt to use the maximum available space for the new partition.
- Choose the right file system – Select the most appropriate file system based on OS and usage.
- Check for errors – Verify the drive’s health using Disk Utility before reformatting.
- External drives connect directly – Don’t use a USB hub which can cause connectivity issues.
Following best practices helps ensure the reformatting process goes smoothly and yields the best formatted drive for your needs.
FAQ About Reformatting Seagate Drives
Does reformatting a Seagate drive erase all data?
Yes, reformatting erases all data and partitions on a Seagate drive, essentially resetting it to a blank state.
Can you reformat a Seagate drive from FAT32 to NTFS?
Yes, Windows Disk Management can be used to reformat a Seagate drive from FAT32 to NTFS by deleting existing partitions and creating a new NTFS partition.
Is exFAT better than NTFS for Seagate drives?
exFAT is good for cross-platform compatibility but lacks some NTFS features like file compression and encryption. NTFS is generally better for Seagate drives dedicated for Windows usage.
Can Seagate drives be reformatted on a Mac?
Yes, Seagate drives can be reformatted on a Mac using Disk Utility. You can format for Mac OS Extended, exFAT, or other file systems.
How can I tell if my Seagate drive needs reformatting?
Signs your Seagate drive may need reformatting include frequent crashes/freezes, very slow performance, inability to access saved files, or errors like “disk not formatted”.
Conclusion
Reformatting a Seagate hard drive is a straightforward process on both Windows and Mac computers using the built-in disk management utilities. Simply delete existing partitions, create a new partition utilizing the full capacity, select the desired file system, give the drive a name, and initialize reformatting. Third party tools like GParted and Acronis Disk Director also provide reformatting options. The process erases all data, so remember to backup first. With the proper steps, you can reformat a Seagate drive to repurpose it, change file systems, resolve issues, or erase data.