How To Format a Hard Drive

Formatting a hard drive depends on how you wish to format them, whether using a Windows startup disk or without it. With the simple formatting process of your hard drive, you can effectively eradicate viruses, storage problems and other similar complicated problems along with preparing the disk surface in accepting and storing data.

There are some very quick and easy steps to format a hard drive with Windows XP or 2000. They are as follows: at first you require inserting Windows CD and the restart your PC to begin with the process of installation. Wait till your computer boots automatically from the C to the Windows Setup Main Menu. Press ENTER at the Welcome to set up page. In order to accept the Windows XP Licensing Agreement, you should immediately press F8. You are prompted to repair for any existing Windows XP installation if detected.

To escape the process of repair, just press ESC. Using the arrow key, select the unpartitioned or partitioned space where you have decided to create a fresh partition. By pressing D, you can immediately delete the existing partition or if you wish to create a new partition, just press C. Now type the size in megaytes to use the new partition and press ENTER. Select the format option and press ENTER again. Once Windows Setup program formats the partition, continue installing Windows by following the instructions that appeared on the screen.

Now to learn the method of formatting your hard drive with Windows 95, 98 or ME. For reinstalling the Windows, you should Startup Diskette and a Windows Installation CD and then download the Startup Diskette Creator, while inserting it to a floppy and then restart your computer. By selecting the option #1, start your computer with CD-ROM support. Once you find A:>_ on the scree, type"fdisk" and press ENTER. You you wish to enable large disk support, Select Y or if not Select N. Remember that certain Windows 95 versions may not support large disk. For creating DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive, select the option #1. Also select the same option for creating Create Primary DOS Partition. Soon the drive integrity will be verified.

If you wish to create multiple partitions or to make the partition active, after completing the process. select Y and the drive integrity will be verified once again. Press the Esc key to exit fdisk. press the reset button or press the keys Ctrl then Alt then Delete on the computer and release them together without removing the floppy disk. In order to start computer with CD-ROM support select the option again. After you see A:>, you will receive a message with a letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive that should be noted. For proceeded further, press the Y key. Wait for some minute for the formatting to finish. Finally, choose a Volume Label as a name for your hard drive.