format hard drive

[nonowt]

I am giving my old hd to my grandaughter to make her computer up to 40 g instead of 10g how do i format it before giving it to her i am running windows xp pro I have clicked hd and clicked format but the computer wont recgognise it says you cannot format from windows any ideas

 

[itsme]

Formatting HDD

in an attempt to format your HDD you will need ACCESS to another PC and I stress ACCSESS to a second PC.

As I see quite a number of posts regarding FORMATTING this will help you as long as you are NOT a complete novice, if you are a novice PLEASE be careful, in understanding this article fully, you will succeed.

• Before you work on any PC remove the mains supply cable, once removed [NO POWER] press the start button, as this will drain any power that is left in the PC. It is advisable to earth yourself while working on any PC, by means of a wrist earth strap.
• Remove the HDD you need to format from your malfunctioning PC.
• On the second PC providing it has a spare IDE connector connect the HDD making sure the jumpers are set correctly MASTER/SLAVE, IE: if the existing one is set to MASTER set the one you need to format to SLAVE or vice versa.
• If you do not have a spare IDE remove one of your other drives CD/DVD etc: NOT your main HDD.
• Now when you start the PC it will recognise the second HDD if asked which one to boot up from obviously use the existing one.
• When the PC is up and running go to START click, scroll up to SETTINGS.
• Now enter CONTROL PANEL click.
• In control panel choose ADMINISTRATVE TOOLS double click to open.
• Now choose COMPUTER MANAGEMENT double click to open.
• When the window opens you will see on the left hand side DISK MANAGEMENT double click to open.
• You will now see your HDD`s C=D=E= or similar.
• Choose the drive you need to FORMAT you cannot format the HDD that is needed IE the operating system as it is in use.
• Make sure you have chosen the correct HDD to format.
• Now RIGHT click where it says C=D=E= or whatever a box will open
• Choose FORMAT and run it you have a choice long or quick FORMAT make your choice.
• When you have finished CLOSE all open windows, shut the PC down and you have a nice clean HARD DRIVE, now put it back in your computer and set up your operating system.

Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!

 

[itsme]

Update> you cannot> Format a HDD if your using the OS at that time?

 

[muckshifter]

DO NOT USE FDISK for Win XP

 

[floppybootstomp]

Put it in her computer and then right click on it's icon within Windows and format it from there.

 

[itsme]

DO NOT USE FDISK for Win XP

F F F ORGOT about that

 

[Rush]

if all else fails

If all else fails ..google the worlds biggest magnet and then nonchenantly pass the HDD across it