Formatting laptop drive?

Question

Is it possible to format my laptop drive as it only has one drive? I always thought that I needed to be on another hard drive to format the one I want to use.

Answer 1

you can format your existing hard drive. however, you will lose all your files and of course your os. if you're using a win xp, just pop in the cd and do an installation. eventually, before the installation process is formally started, it will ask you on which drive you want to install the os, you can format the drive then.

Answer 2

You need to have a CD drive in order to format the hard drive. You should have received a Window install or a Restore disk with your computer. Simply boot from that CD and it will handle the formatting and reinstall of Windows for you.

Answer 3

While re-installing OS [Operating System], there should be an option to re-format the drive before installation begins.

This requires you to boot through the install image on the laptop or from a bootable OS CD.

Answer 4

If you format your entire drive that is on your computer right now, you will most likely lose all of your files as well as your operating system and have to reinstall everything. you dont have to be on another hard drive, but make sure you back up your stuff you want to keep (documents, music, pictures, etc.)

Answer 5

op. system install / re-install steps



print a copy of this file

print a copy of computer notes

back-up files, programs ;

power down

disconnect network and external drives

power up

delete tif files ( temp internet files ) and cookies;

un-install programs;

delete folders;

delete accounts

empty recycle bin

restart computer

Go to BIOS and set boot order with CD boot 1st

place O.S. CD in CD drive, 'cept don't close it

power down

close CD drive with O.S. CD in it

restart computer

format primary HDD;

( Fn + F10 ) = disc eject ( DELL )

install op. system;

adjust screen resolution;

load software for external drives and hardware;

test for internet connection;

install additional programs as necessary


If your computer is several years old, consider buying a new hard drive for the fresh install of the op. sys..

When re-installing the o.s., allocate 15gb (15000mb) of space for the op. sys.. Format in NTFS. Then, after you boot, you can allocate / format the rest of the hard drive under disk management;

>(r-clik) my computer
> manage
> disk management

Allocate +/- 15 to 20 gb of space for each partition, format in NTFS.

Install additional software (printer, wireless adaptor, office suite, web browser, widgets,etc.) to a partition. AVOID installing to the partition that host's the op.sys..

download to a partition, install software and all other files to another partition

With only the op. sys. on the hosting partition it will be easier for your computer to run the op., and easier to run everything else.

And, with your files and software on other partitions, your stuff is already in back-up, and the next op. Sys. Re-install will be already half done and much easier to do and you will only have to format the host partition and not the whole hard drive



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Answer 6

formatting and reinstalling windows does not wipe your disk. With a $29 program or any number of freeware methods, I can unformat your disk in a few minutes. It no longer requires a professional to recover a formatted disk......TRUST ME, I'VE DONE IT ON A COMPUTER THAT MY JOB "FORMATTED" AND GAVE TO ME. I RECOVERED SOME VERY SENSITIVE HR DOCUMENTATION! Get Darik's Nuke and Boot. download the ISO or floppy version (the iso is better if you can burn a cd image). It can take an hour or 2 with the regular wipe, up to a few days with a Department of Defense level of wiping. Boot the CD and hit enter for AUTONUKE.......... formatting will protect you from idiots, DoD wipe protects you from the more technical people.