"unformatting" a hard drive? (under Windows?)

I want to experiment with different boot managers. I know that some of them modify the MBR or perhaps put some files in the cylinder 0, where there is normally nothing placed there.

So after I try out one multi-boot manager, I wnat to be able to erase any MBR modifications and also any files in cylinder 0. How do I do that? ... under Windows 7, if possible?

You can use the Diskpart Windows utility for this.
Here's a link that explains how to use diskpart to fully erase the mbr and data off of a harddrive from inside windows, this should be exactly what you are needing..

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

Seithennin said:

You can use the Diskpart Windows utility for this.
Here's a link that explains how to use diskpart to fully erase the mbr and data off of a harddrive from inside windows, this should be exactly what you are needing..

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

Click to expand...

Thanks. This was EXACTLY what I needed. What surprised me was all the comments, over 150 in all.

Actually to wipe the first sectors of the disk just run the "clean" command alone, if you do a "clean all" it will zero the full disk and will take a while.