Shoutbox

i need to format my second hard-drive, but not install windows XP onto it after.
i couldn't see this option when i ran the windows XP home edition software disk that i have,
is there any other software which will format this drive for me?
thanks for any help and links

No software needed...

Simply install the second hard drive (make sure your BIOS settings are correct) and right click the drive in Windows Explorer and choose "Format".

quote:

---

Originally posted by CookieRevised
Windows Explorer and choose "Format".

---

this isnt a full format usually, often it leaves bits behind, thats why i want other software and to not just do it like that. lol.

You didn't specified that before. Always be as clear and as detailed as possible when you make posts...

Anyways, with the "format" feature in Windows Explorer you always can choose to do a "full format" instead of a "quick format"...


--------------------------

PS: There isn't any reason (much) why you specifically need a complete erase of your hard disk for your own use. Nothing will be wrong or will get corrupted or whatever if you simply choose a "quick format", and certainly not with a "full format".

A "quick format" will only format the FAT of your drive. This is all which is needed to ensure a working blank hard disk (if the drive was formatted before).

Any data left on your hard disk (after a quick format) will simply be overwritten when needed. The physical bits and bytes which still might exist doesn't exist anymore for Windows, so there is absolutely no harm (or reason) why you explicitly need a full erase (for your own use). It has absolutely no disadvantage for Windows when the hard disk wasn't completely erased.

A "full format" will also set each byte on your disk to 0, making recovering files virtually impossible by normal means (means accessable by you and me. Though there are high-tech ways to maybe still recover some stuff, but this is only possible with highly specialized and highly expensive hardware methods). Which is more than secure enough for every day (and more) usage of a hard disk.

If you want it for security reasons, eg: you're gonna sell/give the hard disk away, see "CookieRevised's reply to Full erase" first, and after reading and understanding that post, read the full thread...

thanks cookie, now my head hurts
* DJKAL finds asprin!
i have no incriminating files or evidence on ther
i just want to wipe it clean so that when i use the hard drive again no files are on there, even though with the right software they are traceble, i knew that anyway. i just want to wipe them off.
sorry for not stating that on the first post!
the one i was going to use was "DARIKS BOOT AND NUKE" but from my understanding this wipes ALL hard drives, and i only want to wipe one of 2 in my PC.
i want software which wil ldo this, the same as the standard windows XP disk, when you format before installing
but i dont want to install after XP on that drive after.
any links to software which can do this?

quote:

---

Originally posted by DJKAL
i just want to wipe it clean so that when i use the hard drive again no files are on there, even though with the right software they are traceble, i knew that anyway. i just want to wipe them off.

---

if you simply want to wipe out the disk, as you say it, simply use the format feature in Windows Explorer and choose "full format"*. that's all you need.


* that is: don't tick the option "quick format".

ok, il try this

glad i didnt submt!

i get an error saying it cant format because contents may be in use and to close any windows currently displaying the contents,
but
there are no windows open and nothing from that drive is in use because it was only ever used to stoer music which is no on my other hard drive and so there is nothing from that drive being used, no software was ever installed on it

Make sure your selection cursor in Windows Explorer is NOT on the drive you want to format. Only right-click the drive, don't click on it to access the right-click popup menu.

eg: If you want format drive E, select Drive C first to make sure the cursor is not on drive E, then right-click on drive E and select format.

tryed this, still no luck ....
i have even closed MY COMPUTER
and that didnt help

What about

Start>Run>cmd>format X:/

(X being the drive you want to format)

?