How to format a SPARK for use with Windows as NTFS
SymplySPARK ships by default as RAID 5 and formatted with the APFS file system for use with macOS. We understand you may have other requirements for your environment such as formatting your SPARK to use with Windows or [changing the RAID level] to prioritise disk failure protection over performance.
Follow these instructions to format your SymplySPARK for use on Windows:
Right-click on the Start Menu and select Disk Management
When Disk Management opens, verify the SymplySPARK is attached. As seen below, where it is shown as Disk 1 (in this example). Make sure to correctly identify the disk number and make a note of it for later in this process.
Once verified, right-click on the Start Menu and select Command Prompt (Run as administrator), alternatively type CMD and Enter into the Windows search bar
IMPORTANT: The next steps will erase the selected drive without confirmation. Please be sure that the correct Disk number has been identified
In the command prompt
Type diskpart and press Enter
Type select disk x and press Enter (x = disk number from Disk Management)
WARNING: The next step is destructive to all data on the selected disk. Ensure you have selected the correct disk.
Type clean and press Enter
Once the DiskPart succeeded in cleaning the disk message is displayed, you can close the Command Prompt window.
Go back to Disk Management and right-click the Disk that shows a red down arrow and click Initialize Disk
The disk should already be selected, make sure it is set to GPT and click OK
Right-click the now Unallocated drive and select New Simple Volume
Continue through the wizard, naming you drive as appropriate
Once done, your drive is now ready to use on Windows
If you see an error message at the Initialize or Create Simple Volume steps, please see this [support article].
If you have any questions please submit a [support ticket]