Reformatting Multiple HDs

[DruSi3r]

Guys,
Recently my system has become slightly* unstable. I want to reformt as it is spring cleaning time. My current setup includes to Western Digital HDs. My 80 gig is hooked up via IDE and contains my OS (XP Home) and apps. My 200gig is hooked up via Serial ATA and contains my media (movies, music, install files etc.). Is it possible for me just to reformat the 80 gig? I would feel safer if I just removed the 200gig; however, when I hook it back up will XP give me a problem finding my old data? Is this an okay way to go about things? Thanks for your help in advance.
Drew

PS my 80 gig has also been quite noisy and sandra soft said i was only moving 11000kb/sec. I plan on taking everything apart and redoing the wiring. Do you think this plus the reformat will fix these slow speeds? I also have the seriallllal adaptor that came with my ABit board should I just run them both on the same serial channel?

[TekieB]

When you reinstill xp (assuming thats what you would do) just select that one to instal and format to. It shoudln't toch your other one.

[DruSi3r]

put in my XP cd and change the boot sequence to CD first. Should I do the quick or full format? I was even thinking of using WD's tools which come on a disk and doing a complete erase from that. Whats your opinion.
d

[TekieB]

I would use the XP cd, just do a quick format unless there is data you "must" get rid of.

[DruSi3r]

is there a difference between performing a complete formatting via the XP cd and by using WD tools. Whats the difference between XP quick and full. I dont mind letting it run over night.
Drew

[Ice Czar]

quick simply erases the partition table, full adds a surface scan and locks out any bad sectors,
WD can do a zero fill (fake low level format)
returning the drive to factory condition (less any bad sectors)

"true" low level formatting (writing drive architecture, sectors, cylinders, tracks, servo bursts) are only done at the factory these days

the easiest way to reformat multiple HDD is from DiskManagement in the OS
Start > Run > (type) diskmgmt.msc > Rclick the partition
Note you cant use Disk Management to reformat the System Partition (which shouldf be the partition youve booted into to do this) use the CD or other ap like the http://www.ultimatebootcd.com

[Excavator]

Is it possible for me just to reformat the 80 gig? I would feel safer if I just removed the 200gig; however, when I hook it back up will XP give me a problem finding my old data? Is this an okay way to go about things? Thanks for your help in advance.

It's no problem to format the 80 while the 200 is still in the system. Just be very sure what drive your selecting. There is enough difference between 80 gig and 200 that there is not a lot of chance of mixing them up.
To be absolutely sure (how important is your data???) I would disconnect it anyway. Just takes a second.

Should have no trouble reconnecting it and finding your old data.