Windows XP Initialize Harddrive

[PghMark]

I've been familiar with the 'create a partition' and format of
harddrives for years. I recently put an additional harddrive in my
Windows XP system and before I could partition and format it it
required me to 'initialize' the harddrive.

The process worked fine, but I'm curious...exactly what is this extra
initialize step the Windows XP requires?

 

[Jerry]

Did you ask the drive manufacturer and/or do a Google search?

 

[Andy]

I've been familiar with the 'create a partition' and format of
harddrives for years. I recently put an additional harddrive in my
Windows XP system and before I could partition and format it it
required me to 'initialize' the harddrive.

The process worked fine, but I'm curious...exactly what is this extra
initialize step the Windows XP requires?

Initialization puts a disk signature on the new disk, and gives you
the option of making the disk either basic or dynamic.