how do i format a HD

[GameFreak]

i want to know how to format my hard drive but i dont know how. when i right click on my c-drive there is an option to format but im not sure if that the right thing to do and i dont want to screw up my pc. whats the right way?

 

[montag451]

Firstly, you can't format your c drive whilst you are using windows - this is where all your files and the operating system is stored.
The C drive is your main drive.

How many hard drives have you got?
What operating system do you want to use?
Have the cd's to load them? with license number etc?

Please answer these questions and i will help you - and so will others.
Thank you

 

[GameFreak]

i only have 1 120 gig HD thats not partitioned, i want to use Windows XP Pro and i have the cd with the code

 

[nanaki333]

if you're talking about wanting to install windows XP on a fresh drive. just boot from the windows xp cd and go through the setup. it'll give you the option to delete and create partitions and let you format it with NTFS. from there, it'll go to install windows. if this is a drive already in your computer, just load windows, right click my computer and go to manage. click disk management, look for the drive in question, right click and format it.

 

[db2]

Do you need anything saved on the hard drive ?
Once you format the drive - you wipe out everything out there. If you need something saved , do a backup of that first.

 

[GameFreak]

i think nanaki just answered my question and i dont want anything saved i want my whole HD wiped clean

i did everything u listed and when i right click on my C drive i am unable to choose the format option, is it because that is my primary drive with Windows on it?

 

[nanaki333]

yeah, you cannot format a partition that's your OS is running on.

 

[montag451]

If you are wanting to start from scratch:

Insert xp cd into cd drive.
follow instructions to prepare the drive - format etc.

If, when you start the computer, it doesn't start running from the cd, then,
restart your computer,
press 'delete' key [depending on what computer, it will tell you to hit the xxxxxx key to enter setup]
This is the BIOS, be careful in here. You can't hurt it just by looking, and if you do change something you shouldnt have, just press EXIT WITHOUT SAVING CHANGES
Look for standard setup,
Change boot order - 1st device should be CDROM
2nd device should be HDD or hdd
SAVE and EXIT [might be F10, it will tell you at the bottom of the screen]
computer will restart, and the xp cd will start automatically.

Let us know how it goes. Good luck. Well done for doing this on your own - and also for managing to find the right place to learn more about your computer