How do I format an old hard drive that still has windows on it

[williamd]

The only way I know to format a drive like this is to put the XP CD in and start as if you're going to install windows. But just do the format bit? And then don't bother installing Windows?

This seems pretty pointless. Is there not an easy way?

 

[Hamster]

How about creating an msdos or windows 98 boot disk?

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

 

[MotherMayI]

You can actually get boot disks just for managing partitions etc., that provide a pretty little GUI to do it all with.

PQ Magic is the one I use, if I remember it correctly. Really helpful little tool.

 

[Sgt_Pepper]

probly not recommended but i fire up a computer let it boot into windows then plug in the IDE/SATA, go into device manager, scan for hardware changes then format it when it identifies the drive.

 

[bledd]

can you connect it to another pc?

plug it in,
go to windows
start, run
diskmgmt.msc , then format it from there

 

[williamd]

probly not recommended but i fire up a computer let it boot into windows then plug in the IDE/SATA, go into device manager, scan for hardware changes then format it when it identifies the drive.

This is the way I was thinking of doing it. Does it work

 

[bledd]

can you connect it to another pc?

plug it in,
go to windows
start, run
diskmgmt.msc , then format it from there

 

[me227]

Assuming you have a working PC available to slot it into then why can't you do it bledd.'s way?

Just make sure you boot up the correct hard drive first.