Is it possible to format a hard drive without installing an operating system on it?

Answer 1

The easy way to format a Hddisk is Get USB Hddisk enclosure.
1) Have your Hddisk set Jumper to cable select then fix it in to your Hddisk enclosure.
2) Attach it to the USB port at your Computer and let it auto detect.
3) Next go to Start at your desktop, select All programs - Control panel - Administrative Tools - Computer Management - Disk Management .
4) Look for your unformated hddIsk (gray shaded),Right click on it and select format ( FAT32 for Win98 and win2k &WinXP ) ( NTFS for win2k &WinXP ).
5) Follow on screen instruction.( Use logical partition.)
6) Wait for it to be formated ( it will take quite sometime depending of the size of you hddisk.
After formated you can use it to backup your data.

Answer 2

yes!

here's your options:

1. from another computer for example in a computer shop, bring a floppy disk 1.44MB, commonly inserted in A:\, if the computer in the shop is using windows 98 or 2000, insert the disk, then go to the control panel, add/remove programs, then it has 3 tabs, click the third tab, you will see create a boot disk, click it then your 1.44MB disk will be a boot disk. after that, insert the disk to your pc that doesn't have any OS (operating system), then turn on your computer, just wait then you will see that your computer is in DOS MODE.... you will see A:\ .... then type format C: , then it will ask you if you're sure, click yes.... then wait for it then it will be formated... note: do not create boot disk on windows xp.. it will not work.

2.you can use a CD installer of any OS,,, win98, 2000, xp, or even vista.... as you are installing the os it will show an option saying if you want to format the disk... click yes then its ok...

3. you may insert your hard disk on a computer....then if you are using win xp, you will see automatically the hardisk as D:\, right click on the harddisk and click format ,,, thats it..

good luck!

Answer 3

yes it is possible. Every one formates the harddrive when it is first time used. There is no OS on it at that time.
U can do this by booting the system from a CD. Normaly window 98 CD is used or u can use any dos programe.
Then when computer is boot up. Then by using the command "Format 'drive name' ". If it is a new hard disk then u can use " fdisk " command. TRy it..

For the booting a system no files are needed on the hard disk. U can boot from floop, or CD or flash drive.

:)

Answer 4

Yes. You don't need an OS on the hard drive to read from it. The OS can be installed on another hard drive (so normally this would be for systems with multiple hard drives). Another good example where you wouldn't want an OS on is an external drive.

Answer 5

No., You need MS Dos Operating System atleast to format ur harddrive.

Answer 6

However you want to format this is the procedure:
>>If you want to format firstly save all your important files to disc or pendrive.
>>Then you can format savety.
>>After you complete format then now you can install the software into the computer.

This is a right procedure to format the computer and also the procedure to install the computer with the right way.
Hope this information can help you.So,good luck.

Answer 7

yes! if u hav a bootable cd/floppy, insert it, from Bios, boot through that cd/floppy. this will open a command prompt interference (MS-DOS). here type :
format
and then press enter. comp will ask for confirmation and there u are! it will start full format
if u wanna quick format:
format /Q
(Q for Quick)

Answer 8

Yes. This is commonly done with 2nd (non booting) hard drives in a system.

Answer 9

Yeah, just format it in FAT32 (only files that are smaller than 4 GB) or NTFS (only accesible for Windows)

Answer 10

after you format a drive....it is essentially ....." blank "..formatting is erasing the entire contents......you must install something when you're done


unless you're just using it for storage space...