Backups - Formatting

Your external drive, once plugged in and powered on, will probably be unformatted. Even if it is pre-formatted I feel it is a good idea to re-format it as an extra check on the physical quality.

Open Windows Explorer and right-click on your external drive.

In the example below I am using a little 4 gigabyte memory key just to conjure up screen snapshots. Your external drive will say "500 GB" or close to it rather than "3.82 GB".

Make sure that the Quick Format checkbox is checked OFF.

Choose the Start button and go watch a movie, or better yet, take Volume 4 of Lloyd George's "War Memoirs" to bed and have a good read. When you wake up in the morning the format will be complete.

Tomorrow night: Another overnight run - encrypting the external drive.

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