easiest way to format and partition a new HDD.

[BZeto]

Ok, I've formatted a hard drive before... I just typed "format c: /s" It was a 10 gig and I just had one partition. So I have a new 40 gig drive, how do I partition and format it? I want 2 different partitions. I know I have to do something with FDISK, but I dont know what after that.


thanks

 

[nightowl]

Which OS are you running? Win2k and XP no longer use FDISK to make partitions on drives. The Disk Management tool included with them is a lot easier to use than FDISK. You can also format the drive right there instead of exiting from FDISK, rebooting, and then formatting. If you are using some variant of Win9x then just get a bootable disk with FDISK and format on it and run FDISK first. In fdisk you need to create a Primary partiton first and then a Extended partition. After that you need to reboot and then format the drives.

 

[BZeto]

I'm using windows 98. So when I boot to the floppy with my brand new hard drive in, I type "FDISK", then just go from there to format it? is it pretty easy?

Then, once I partition it, one 10 gig partition, and one 30 gig partition, I reboot, then type "format c: /s" then what will the other partition's letter be? D: ? so then I type, "format d:" ?

do I need to put the "/s" in the line that formats the secondary partiton? or just for the OS partition?

thanks, I'm a newb and am trying to learn this stuff.

 

[BZeto]

bump

 

[BZeto]

.....

 

[ElFenix]

fdisk partitions. format.com formats.

 

[BZeto]

what? thanks but I already knew that.... can someone answer my specific questions I asked?

 

[Dolemite76]

assuming your drive is pre formatted... doesn matter... go under fdisk... set up a primary partition (full size of the disk)... or make sure one is already present... it will tell you that one is already present if you try to create one... next create a logical partition on the primary partition (using half the size of the primary partition or whatever size you want)... if it asks for an extended partition first... then create an extended partition using the size you want... then continue to create a logical partition in the extended partition... that should do it... exit fdisk... reboot... reformat both partitions... and that should work...