Tip: How to Format your Hard Disk so you can use it in a USB Caddy or USB Case

If you've got yourself a new HardDisk and you want to use it in an external USB or Firewire HDD Caddy to create your own back-up solution then you're going to need to Format the Hard Disks before its recognised by your PC. If you don't do this then the HardDrive will fail to appear as a new drive letter when the caddy is hooked up to your PC.

Formatting the Hard Drive is pretty straighforward but before you try and do it make sure that:

• The Jumper settings on the Hard Disk are set to "Master" - only applicable to IDE/ATA and P-ATA HArdDisks
• The Hard Disk needs to be installed in the Caddy
• The Caddy needs to be powered up and the cables connecting it to the PC need to be in place
• Finally, following the instrcutions here to go through the Format Process
  
  Click here ---> Link to Microsft Instructions for Formatting your Hard Disk

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