How do i format my hard drive without the operating system cd?

chris_uk333 · 5 Mar 2009 at 17:31

Yeah so i need to wipe my hard drive, but i dunno how...I know how to do it with the OS disc, but i don't have it.

Any ideas?

Paul11 · 5 Mar 2009 at 17:34

is it your main drive? (if you can plug it in as a slave, you can format it in windows)

what are you going to do with it after ? (are you going to reinstall windows at some point or use it just as a data drive? )

Firegod · 5 Mar 2009 at 19:50

As Paul says, I believe you can do it from a CMD prompt in Windows:-

format c:

Or, through Computer Management in Admin Tools (Control Panel).

Paul11 · 6 Mar 2009 at 09:15

not sure you can format you boot drive, in windows...

depends on what you are trying to do .?

freddie64 · 6 Mar 2009 at 10:48

Not sure what you are doing, but you could try killdisc.

Speed · 6 Mar 2009 at 16:41

Or you could download the hard drive manufacturers testing software, depending on the make they almost always have a write zeros option. Usually timed or a full wipe.

Just burn it to a CD and boot from it.

Awire · 6 Mar 2009 at 18:01

Control Panel - Administration tools - Computer management

new window opens

on right panel - Storage - Disk Management(local

if not in windows you'll need a boot disk www.bootdisk.com

herr_brush · 6 Mar 2009 at 21:08

If you want to make sure you completely wipe it (if you're selling it or something) use dban. http://www.dban.org/

You can d/l a bootable image from the site and it does a very thorough job. You'll still have to format the disk when you're done though if you want to install an OS on it.

freddie64 · 7 Mar 2009 at 09:50

Just a thought.
If you have no OS disc, how are you gonna reinstall?