Formatting a former boot HDD

[Modular]

I want to know the steps to do this. I have one drive that I will be using as a Vista Beta drive for a bit. I'm going to be disconnecting my XP drive while using Vista. Then, when I'm done messing with Vista, I'll unhook the Vista drive and reconnect the XP drive.

How should I reformat the Vista drive? Should I format it before I disconnect it?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

😕

Put in the vista drive and only the vista drive.... format

now boot from vista dvd. pwn.

 

[Modular]

I wasn't too clear, sorry.

I have an 80gb HDD that has XP Home on it now.
I have a 100gb HDD that is new in it's box that I want to install Vista on for a short period, just to play with it.
When I install Vista, I will be disconnecting my XP drive, and installing Vista on the new, clean HDD. Once I am done with Vista, I want to be able to reformat the Vista drive and boot from my XP drive again.

My question is this:

Should I format the Vista drive before I re-connect the XP drive. And if yes, then what are the proper steps to a complete format?

Start-commands-Format C

?

 

[Homerboy]

uhhh
leave the ex-Vista drive in the PC.
Boot to XP HDD
in XP format the ex-Vista
and your done?

 

[Modular]

I know this thread has been one ongoing noob questionaire. I've never reformatted before, so this would be my first time.

Ummm,

Start-Run-Fdisk?

How do I run the format? I think the new drive came with a utility that will allow me to do it if I boot from the CD. Is that the best route to take?

 

[Homerboy]

right click My Computer -> manage -> disk management
choose your drive, format from there. You can remove parittion if you like too.

thats your Gui for ya