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Help Formatting!!

D

diesiel

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 7, 2004
Messages
239
Okay I want to Reformat a partiton i have. I've already backed everything up so that's not a problem, So how exactly do i format !?!?!? (Running Windows XP SP2).


Also, by the way, After i format i also want to scan the partition to make sure there arent any problems with it whatsoever and basically have it working like new. Can anyone recomend any hard disk utilities? Sorry for the n00b Questions. Thanks in advance.




-Diesiel
 
You would like to format a storage drive, or wipe and reinstall Windows fresh?

 
If you want to test the disk for errors, use the manufacturers diagnostics that should be on their website. If you're formatting a drive while maintaining your Windows installation, use the disk manager, which is found in the Control Panel, under Administrative Tools, if your reformatting the C: drive to reinstall Windows simply use the XP installation disk.

Also I like to do a zero fill (sometimes incorrectly referred to as a low level format) using the manufacturers diagnostics. This will truly "clean" the disk of data, as a reformat simply marks the space on the hard drive as unused.
 
tdg said:
If you want to test the disk for errors, use the manufacturers diagnostics that should be on their website. If you're formatting a drive while maintaining your Windows installation, use the disk manager, which is found in the Control Panel, under Administrative Tools, if your reformatting the C: drive to reinstall Windows simply use the XP installation disk.

Also I like to do a zero fill (sometimes incorrectly referred to as a low level format) using the manufacturers diagnostics. This will truly "clean" the disk of data, as a reformat simply marks the space on the hard drive as unused.
Click to expand...


Oh so the only way to do a low level format is via the manufactures diagnostics? Shoot i wish i had a Floppy drive. ~_~
 
Nowadays you can also get them in a handy bootable ISO. DL and burn :)
 
diesiel said:
Oh so the only way to do a low level format is via the manufactures diagnostics? Shoot i wish i had a Floppy drive. ~_~
Click to expand...

What i'd suggest is to download the Ultimate Boot CD, you can search for it on google, and burn it onto CD. It has all the manufacturers diagnostics, as well as stand-alone zero fill utilities.
 
tdg said:
What i'd suggest is to download the Ultimate Boot CD, you can search for it on google, and burn it onto CD. It has all the manufacturers diagnostics, as well as stand-alone zero fill utilities.
Click to expand...


O ok thanks im looking into it now..Wow there sure is alot of shit to do.. lol.
 
So your looking at reformating your primary partition then? As in wiping clean everything on your HD to reinstall windows?
 
I am in the OP's situation. I wiped a drive using the UBCD and now everything (all programs on the UBCD and WindowsXP install disc) show my 120gb hdd as 32gb. It is the only drive on the computer too. It also gives me the "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT" bluescreen during install. I checked the disk with every diagnostic available and it checks out perfect, and it was working properly before I wiped it. What happened?
 
You need SP2 for it to recognize a drive over 138gb.
You can either get a XP cd from ms, or borrow one with SP2. Or you could take a look at this.

 
I am aware of that.

My drives are 120gbs and I only have one installed.
 
Heh, that will teach me to post tech help 5 minutes outta bed won't it? ;)
Have you tried totally yanking the partition, say just using FDISK, leaving it completely unpartitioned then start your XP install?

 
Yup.

WD's own program (both on the UBCD and the latest one off of their website) see it as a 32gb hdd.

I was using the drive in my rig....I built a new rig and was going to wipe the windows partition clean and reinstall for the new rig. I formatted using Windows install and it hung on "Setup is starting Windows". Found out that I couldn't have my PCI-e video card (nVidia) installed before Windows was installed on my mobo (ATI X200 chipset). So I took the card out and used onboard, Windows wanted to install again and when it showed the partition page....it showed a single partition of 32gbs and my data was gone from the other partitions (of which I didn't back it up to another drive and that made me actually physically ill from loosing it. Never agian will I not back up my data at least once every week).

So when I was done crying over my lost data, I used everything under the sun to format. Between each time formating I tried to install....each time....32gb hdd showed.

I broke down today (mentally and physically) and bought a SATA hdd at MicroCenter. I am now posting from my new rig.

I don't know what to do about the other drive. I have an external encloser so I could pop it in that and format it from Windows Disk Management.
 
Yup.

Says it check out ok.

I am going to put it in my external encloser tomorrow and see if I can get all the space formatted and showing. If I can, then I have a 120gb backup drive. If I can't....I am going to smash the evil little thing to death.
 
Thanks for the Thread jack =/

Anywayz, back on topic. This partition is D: (I have 3, C,D,E) C=Windows drive.

I want to Compleltly obliterate partition D Meaning its the partition i want to Clean up. I will be re-installing Windows On C shortly.
 
Control Panel
Administrative Tools
Computer Management
Disk Management
Right Click on the drive Delete Partition
Then you can recreate and format a fresh partition

 
diesiel said:
Thanks for the Thread jack =/

Anywayz, back on topic. This partition is D: (I have 3, C,D,E) C=Windows drive.

I want to Compleltly obliterate partition D Meaning its the partition i want to Clean up. I will be re-installing Windows On C shortly.
Click to expand...

No problem. Anything for someone who spells words that end in 's' with a 'z'. ;)
 
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