how do you reformat the hard drive in a computer
2007-03-08 07:20:31 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
I assume you want to replace the existing operating system? Or is this a secondary drive?
If it is the primary operating drive you need to boot with the operating system CD. Nearly all of them have the "format" program on them. With Windows XP it will ask you if you want to reformat when you boot from it if you tell it you want to setup windows.
If it is a secondary drive you can reformat from Administrative tools drive managment (assuming again you have XP)
Just remember format ERASES everything on the drive.
If you have a Western Digital or Maxtor harddrive the CD that came with the drive itself has a reformat tool on it also. If you dont have that CD you can download the tools from the websites.
2007-03-08 07:34:52 · answer #1 · answered by Tracy L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
This is simple just put the XP disk into the drive then switch the P.C Off, wait a minute then switch it back On, the P.C should now Boot from the C.D (if your BIOS is set correctly) and then select Reformat from the options menu then reinstall Windows.
2007-03-08 15:38:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will lose all data.
Do you have original Windows OS CD?
start/run/sfc
report what is your problem..
Do a general cleanup with ccleaner from www.filehippo.com
AWC2Personal from http://www.iobit.com.
use an antivirus program www.grisoft.com.
C: properties. tools defragment/ checkdisk etc.
2007-03-08 15:38:43 · answer #3 · answered by essbebe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you've got a floppy boot disk you can boot off it and type "format c:" or with a windows xp disk boot off it and choose the option to format and reinstall windows but I wouldn't advise you to do it if you don't know what you're doing you end up in trouble
2007-03-08 15:30:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋