how can i format a HDD manually?

Question

The hdd has is froma laptop computer

the computer isnt turning on , as it has patient histories in it need to delete the data on it before i repair it

Answer 1

Use the DOS format.com
Or boot from windows cd and let it format the HDD

Answer 2

Mike R is correct. Just formatting the hard drive is not enough to permanently remove existing files. It isn't easy but it is possible to reconstruct the files even after the hard drive has been formatted. Instead, I recommend you try the free software program "Boot and Nuke." Simply download the file and copy it on to a blank CD. Next, place the CD in to the CD ROM drive and boot with the CD. Boot and Nuke will completely wipe out the hard drive and not even a computer forensic team can reconstruct any files. The link is (http://dban.sourceforge.net/)

Here is what PC World Magazine had to say about the free program.

"...If your system's next owner doesn't need your Windows installation, your best bet is Darik's Boot and Nuke (free). Boot and Nuke does exactly what its name suggests: Once you've installed the appropriate files on a bootable floppy or copied them to a CD, just boot the computer with the DBAN disc to wipe the hard drive completely clean. Its advantages are speed and ease of use, but DBAN can't delete individual files, so it's suitable only when you want to get rid of all the data on an old hard drive."

Answer 3

What do mean by "the computer isn't turning on."

Have you got any power?

Do you mean the hard drive is not booting?

Do not format a hard drive if you want to recover the data from it.

Either perform a check/repair or buy a new hard drive.

You do not need to format a drive that has already been formatted.

Answer 4

Do not just format the drive. Anyone who is knowledgeable will be able to recover data from a drive that is formatted. Instead there are utilities out there (some free, some pay) to completely wipe the drive to where nobody can possibly even recover any bit of information.

http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/2006/08/disk-wiping-utilities-how-to-get-rid.html

That blog post runs over a few of the options you have.
Killdisk is a free wiping utility...

http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm

Answer 5

Did you positioned the boot priorities interior the BIOS so it's going to boot into the optical tension? in case you do no longer even get to load the disk in any respect, this is not any longer good. you ought to attempt booting off of a USB tension. rather plenty all motherboards might have an IDE connector to plug the stress into, except it incredibly is a Sandy Bridge (or perhaps then some nonetheless have IDE). in the past you reinstall homestead windows regardless of the undeniable fact that, attempt to get into the Startup-restoration menu and do a sort of automatic startup maintenance, it each so often helps for random boot errors. in case you get into the setting up-disk you additionally can attempt basically repairing (improve set up) it. regardless of the undeniable fact that for the time of all probability an hassle-free format could no longer fix the stress if this is not even letting you boot from the setting up disk.

Answer 6

the only time you need to format your hard drive is before you install windows xp or vista,and both these windows versions will format your drive automatically during set up
however to format a drive manually you need to do it in d.o.s,and the easiest way to start is by downloading a windows 98 start up disk(http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm),download this and run the program after putting a formatted floppy disk in your floppy drive
then boot up your p.c with the start up disk in the floppy drive(make sure bios is set to boot from floppy first)
the screen will give you options,pick"with cd rom support"then wait for the disk to finish loading,
when the command prompt appears with a:/ you need to type format :c(were c is your drive letter)then press enter
you will be asked are you sure you wish to continue y/n...pick yes (press y) and then press enter,this will then start formatting your hard drive
upon completion you will be asked to name the drive,just press enter for defualt name
note:allways restart your computer after a format.
several versions of windows can be installed via a start up disk,here are the commands for each version
windows 95 : set up.
windows 98 : win98/setup.exe
windows 98se :win98se/setup.exe
windows millenium : setup.exe
windows xp and 2000 cannot be installed form a command prompt,to install these either start from a previous desktop(e.g install xp as a upgrade from a 98 desktop) or install it by booting from cd(place the cd in the dvd drive and restart the computer making sure you have changed the boot order to cd rom first in bios)
you will need to attach the 2.5" laptop drive to a p.c using a interface or to another laptop to comlete the format
good luck