to remember to fix in the future.....
i just had the problem of reformatting an external drive from simple tech.
- the techy tony that i was assisted by said that if you're running leopard that there are a few extra steps need:
turn your computer off. turn the external hd off. restart computer. when the computer is up again turn on the hd.
you should get a warning sign: initialize - ignore - eject
you need to initialize it. (the tech said it this didn't work that there was one other way, but this worked for me.... i don't have the other way)
then go to applications - utility - disk utility
once you are at the disk utility screen select from the hard drives
931.5GB fv-u35 Media (not the second one below it)
- go to partition: -under Volume Scheme: you need to choose to 1Partition - then apply
-then under Volume Information - name it - format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled) - apply
now you are ready to follow the steps for erasing that come supplied: click erase on the top of the screen. select the desired format. change name. click erase at the bottom of the screen - and once again on the second window.
you should see the icon for the renamed external hard drive.