**Windows:**
1. **Back Up Your Data**: Before formatting, ensure you have backed up all important data stored on the hard drive.
2. **Open Disk Management**:
- Press `Windows key + X` on your keyboard to open the Power User menu.
- Select "Disk Management" from the list.
3. **Locate the Hard Drive**:
- In the Disk Management window, you'll see a list of all connected drives.
- Identify the hard drive you want to format. Be sure to select the correct drive, as formatting will erase all data on it.
4. **Format the Hard Drive**:
- Right-click on the drive you want to format.
- Select "Format" from the context menu.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to specify the file system (usually NTFS for Windows) and allocation unit size.
- Optionally, you can give the drive a new name.
- Check the "Perform a quick format" option if you want to speed up the process. Keep in mind that this option does not check the drive for bad sectors.
- Click "OK" to begin the formatting process.
5. **Wait for Formatting to Complete**: Formatting may take some time depending on the size of the drive and the formatting options selected.
6. **Finish**: Once the formatting is complete, you'll see a confirmation message. You can now close the Disk Management window.
**macOS:**
1. **Back Up Your Data**: As with Windows, make sure to back up all important data stored on the hard drive.
2. **Open Disk Utility**:
- Go to "Applications" > "Utilities" and open "Disk Utility".
3. **Locate the Hard Drive**:
- In the Disk Utility window, you'll see a list of all connected drives.
- Identify the hard drive you want to format.
4. **Erase the Hard Drive**:
- Select the hard drive you want to format from the list on the left.
- Click on the "Erase" button in the toolbar.
- Choose a name for the formatted drive.
- Select a file system (usually APFS for macOS High Sierra and later, or Mac OS Extended for earlier versions).
- Optionally, choose a scheme (GUID Partition Map for Intel-based Macs, or Apple Partition Map for PowerPC-based Macs).
- Click "Erase" to begin the formatting process.
5. **Wait for Erasing to Complete**: Erasing may take some time depending on the size of the drive and the chosen options.
6. **Finish**: Once the erasing is complete, you'll see a confirmation message. You can now close Disk Utility.
That's it! You have successfully formatted your hard drive. Keep in mind that formatting will erase all data on the drive, so be sure to back up any important files before proceeding.