How to format backup drives with NTFS

[BRANT45]

Taking back up of my important files is very important step toward recovering from a severe system failure. The best way to take backup of my computer is to copy the file to an external hard disk but for that I have to format the backup drive in the NTFS format. Actually I want to know the exact method for formatting the external hard drive with NTFS format.

[SpearMan]

For formatting the drive with NTFS follow these steps.
1. Log on the computer as an administrator.
2. Start > Right click on My computer > select Manage.


3. Now you will see window with the name Computer Management.



4. In that window under storage, click on the disk management.



5. After that Initialize and Convert Disk Wizard will appear then click on next.



6. After that click next on the select Disks to Initialize page.



7. Click next



8. After reaching Completing the Initialize and Convert Disk Wizard page, click on finish.



9. Now right click on the external derive and select format.



10. In the Format dialog box, type a name for your external hard drive, such as Backup Drive. Then, click OK.



11. Click on “Ok” and windows will format your external derive.

[SpearMan]

Convert a backup drive to NTFS

To convert an external drive to NTFS

1. Log on to your computer as an administrator.

2. Click Start, right-click My Computer.



3. In the My Computer window, make a note of the drive letter and label assigned to your external drive. Usually, the drive letter will be E or F. The drive letter will not be C (that's the hard drive inside your computer). The label is the word between the drive picture and the drive letter. Some drives may not have a label.




4. Click Start, click Run, and then type convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs

For example, if your external drive is drive E, you would type convert E: /fs:ntfs

Then, click OK.



5. A command window appears. Type the label for your external drive, and then press ENTER. If your drive does not have a label, just press ENTER.



6. If a message warns you that the volume is in use by another process, close any other open windows. Then, press Y and then ENTER.



Windows XP converts your external drive to NTFS. When the conversion is done, the window automatically closes. Your drive is ready for your backups