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[Question62582]

How do i format my hard drive

[Tanarus]

The easiest way for most people to do this is with a Windows XP or Vista setup CD. One of the options has you selecting which hard drive you want to install Windows on, and this provides the opportunity to erase and create partitions, as well as reformat your hard drive. Recovery disks, as well as a built in recovery program (if your computer has one) will also automatically format your hard drive before reinstalling Windows.

Failing those options, look into bootable software, such as Hiren's Boot CD, with programs that can securely erase your data and format your drive.

Hope that helps!

[Dave]

Tanarus: Prob. not a good idea to recommend Hirens Boot CD as it contains pirated software. A free (and legal) alternative is Dariks Boot and Nuke.

However the easiest way for the end-user to reformat is by using their Windows Installation CD as Tanarus suggested.

[shinigamidono]

is this a primary hard drive you are formatting? (as in the drive windows is on?) if not just open my computer, right click on the drive and hit format and go from there... if it is a primary drive.. easiest way is a Windows XP / Windows Vista CD if you have access to one (not talking about recovery discs that come with brand name computers).. if you dont have that.... there is lots of free software you can use to do it (a couple were suggested above)

Message Edited by Julez on 06-17-2009 03:01 PM