How do I install/format a brand new hard drive?

Question

I recently bought a brand new hard drive, but now I have idea how to use it! How do I format it and put an OS on it?

Answer 1

Install it per the instructions that came with it. Then set your BIOS to boot off the CD and put your XP or Linux CD into the CD-ROM drive. It will start and boot off the CD - the CD will give you the necessary options for format and install Windows or Linux.

Answer 2

1.install the hard disc = turn off your computer+unplug the power cord (!) ; open your computer and plug-in all the appropriate cables, signal cables + HDD power cables. If you already have a HDD you have to decide which one is the master HDD drive and which one is the slave unit. Plug-in the power cord and turn ON the computer. if everything is OK go to step 2.
2. I assume you have the OS on CD/DVD bootable media and the BIOS boot sequence as Floppy/CD/DVD/HDD priority. Plug in the OS CD/DVD and restart your computer.
3. The OS from CD/DVD or even a floppy should load and you can install the OS on that new fresh HDD. For instance for Windows XP after few initial steps the OS will see the HDD and prompt a question about to install and create partitions on your new HDD. Just follow the installation steps and will be OK.

Answer 3

ok, Take the discs that you got with your computer. If you didnt get them, youll have to goout and buy Windows XP or similar.

A ncie thing is, windows discs are bootable, so you boot from your cdrom drive. When doing so, the windows setup will start. Follow the on screen directions, and it will Partition and Format your harddrive, then install the OS, all with minimal user interaction!

hope that helps

Note: To boot fom CD enter BIOS and change boot priority. Since you didnt say waht motherboard, google your motherboard, or read the manual and find out how to enter and change boot sequence in the BIOS.

Answer 4

I believe it's no use to format it since it's new (empty), alright here we go..

1) Open ur pc

2) Plug it

3) Insert your OS CD in a good reader

4) If it's WindowsXP:

a) Pick up the option to install by pressing "Enter"
b) Read the Licence Agreement, Press F8 if you agree with the
conditions.
c) specify a partition on ur new hard drive where you want the
OS.
d) If you're given any, you might wanna pick up the File System
type for ur hard drive, either "FAT32" or "NTFS", well, it's
gonna be kinda boring to come on these now, but I'd suggest
the choice with the quick formatting to "NTFS".
e) If you chose the quick formatting to a new FS, u'll have to
wait till it's done.
f) Wait for ur WindowsXP to get installed, and write down
what's asked when the dialogues pop up.
e) happy OS'ing'!

5) you forgot to close your pc!

Answer 5

Installation is simple. Your computer has empty drive bays. Slide the hard drive into one of them and fasten it with screws. Then you need to connect the ribbon supplied with the hard drive. One end plugs into a slot on your motherboard, the other end to the back of the hard drive. Then you connect a spare bundle of red/yellow wires from your computer's power supply to the four pins on the back of the hard drive.

Start up the computer and put the installation disk for Windows into your CD drive. As the computer powers up, it will detect all your hardware, including the hard drive. During the installation process, Windows will format your hard drive.

Answer 6

What brand is the hard drive?
You need the disk that came with it. It will walk you through the process.

You can download the disk too and burn it on CD. They may even have a floppy version too.

Warning. You may have a problem with hard drives that are larger than 130GB, and XP SPK1. Partition Magic can fix that, after Windows is installed.

Answer 7

Be sure you have backed-up every important files you need.

- Restart your PC
- Put the XP CD on the CD DRIVE
- Check if your bios settings has "boot on CD".
- The DOS Program will automatically run the Setup and the program will format the CD for you

Answer 8

I did that once and it was pretty easy. After you install your new hard drive, boot up. Your system will look for the OS. That's when you start putting disks in and let it prompt you through the process!

Answer 9

A step-by-step guide with pictures to install a hard drive:
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/install-hard-drive.htm

There is also good information on installing and upgrading a hard drive:
http://www.harddriveupgrade.com/

Another guide for installing at:
http://www.pcmech.com/show/harddrive/43/

The newer operating system software can format the disk for you before it installs.
There is information on how to format you hard drive in case you would like to do it on your own and confidence in yourself:
http://freepctech.com/pc/001/002.shtml

Probably one of the easiest steps of all is to get your hard drive set up with an operating system. There are several guide in google to install an operating system. Most of them just require you to put the operating system software into the cd rom and follow the instructions.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/virtualserver/2005/proddocs/vs_deploy_setup_VM_OS_install.mspx?mfr=true

The address below explains the whole thing:
http://www.learnthat.com/courses/computer/buildpc/install2.shtml

Answer 10

A new hard drive should come with directions and an installation disk, if it did not you do have an interesting day ahead of you,,.LOL

Here is one site with directions
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1059 if they are to hard just go to google and type in "hard drive installation" and look through all of the pages.