Formatting a WD External Hard Drive

[BASRPH]

I bought a WD My Book Essential to do Time Machine backups. It is formatted for a PC but I was told I need to format for my IMac before I can use it. How do I do that? Is it a complicated process? I have only been using a Mac for about a year now and am still learning about them.

 

[miles01110]

Disk Utility -> Erase -> Select the drive -> Erase and format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

http://www.ehow.com/how_2063795_format-hard-drive-mac-os.html

 

[BASRPH]

Thanks for the quick reply. When I clicked on Erase I got an error message: Disk Erase Failed: File system formatter failed. Did I select something wrong?

 

[FACADE]

http://www.shirt-pocket.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5738