Before you can use a new disk, you need to initialize (or format) the disk. The hard disk inside your computer was initialized at the factory, so you should need to initialize it only if your hard disk is damaged and can't be repaired with Disk First Aid (or another disk repair program).

WARNING: Initializing a disk erases all information on the disk. Before initializing your disk, recover all the information you can and copy it onto another disk.

Initializing a Zip or Jaz disk

To initialize a Zip or Jaz disk, use the Iomega Tools program (which is inside a folder within the Apple Extras folder on your hard disk) and choose the utility appropriate for the type of drive you're using, such as USB or SCSI.

Open Tools for me.

If the Iomega Tools program won't open:
Make sure you have a Zip or Jaz drive connected to your computer. If a drive is not connected to the computer, the Tools program may display an error message stating that the wrong driver version is installed.

Initializing a DVD-RAM disc

To initialize a DVD-RAM disc, follow these steps:

1	Insert the disc into the DVD-RAM drive.
2	Open the Special menu and choose Erase Disk.
3	Select a format for the disc in the Format pop-up menu.

Initializing a hard disk, cartridge, or optical disk

To initialize a hard disk, cartridge, or optical disk (not a CD), use Drive Setup (inside the Utilities folder on your hard disk).

Open Drive Setup for me.

Note: When you initialize a disk, the Format pop-up menu gives you choices that include Mac OS Standard (HFS) and Mac OS Extended (HFS Plus). Mac OS Standard format is compatible with all versions of the Mac OS; Mac OS Extended is compatible only with Mac OS 8.1 or later. If you format a hard disk with Mac OS Extended format, you can't use that disk with computers that use an earlier version of the Mac OS.

If your hard disk is not an Apple hard disk:
Use the disk utility software provided by the disk's manufacturer instead of Drive Setup.

If you want to initialize your startup disk:
Start up your computer from the system software CD. Open Drive Setup, select the startup disk, and click Initialize.

If initialization fails:
Open the Functions menu and choose Initialization Options. Click the "Low level format" and "Zero all data" checkboxes to select them. Then try initializing the disk again.

If initialization fails a second time:
Test your hard disk for physical damage.

Initializing an erasable CD

When you insert a blank CD-RW or CD-R disc, a message appears and asks you to initialize the disc.

If a CD-RW disc already contains files, you can initialize it to use the disc again. This will erase all the files it contains. Check the specifications of the disc for information about its expected life. Discs may become unreliable after being erased many times.

You cannot erase a CD-R disc. Once files are written to a CD-R, they cannot be changed or deleted.

To initialize a CD-RW disc, follow these steps:

1	Insert the disc into the CD drive.
2	Open the Special menu and choose Erase Disk.
3	Select a format for the disc in the Format pop-up menu.

See Creating CDs for more information.