Formatting a HD

[plaidfro]

Simple question... when I format my HD, does that delete all partitions set on it?? Or do I have to go into fdisk first and delete all extended and primary partitions first?

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Depends what you want to do, and what operating system.

If you want to completely wipe the drive then you need to delete all the partitions. If you only want to erase one partition, then just format that partition.

UNless you're running Win98 there's absolutely no reason you should use FDISK.

I'm going to assume you want to do a clean install of Win98 and you want to completely wipe the drive. If so, then just boot from the XP installer CD. Choose a new install and when you get to the point in the installer where it asks you which existing partition you ant to install Windows on, you have the option at that point of selectively deleting and or all partitions. You can also create new partitions. Then you pick the first partition as the install partition for Windows and proceed.

If you just want to wipe the drive before selling it to someone then I would download a free security drive eraser like KillDisk: http://majorgeeks.com/Active_KillDisk_d4791.html

I use KillDisk Pro myself.

Hope this helps...

 

[birdpup]

A partition is a section on the hard drive. Once partition(s) have been created, then it is necessary to format the partition(s). Formatting a partition is nothing more than creating a filesystem on that section of hard drive. This filesystem is necessary for the operating system to either

1. be installed upon, or
2. communicate with the partition to store files on that partition.

[*]Hard Drive Lifecycle

• "Bare metal" hard drive -> create partition(s) -> format partition(s) -> install operating system or store files
• Formatting a partition is the same as creating a filesystem on that partition.

So, no, formatting a hard drive will not delete all partitions set on it. Formatting a partition will allow that partition to be used for file storage.