How do I format with WinXP already installed?

[imported_Sarge]

I am attempting to format my 160gb Samsung HDD and I already have WinXP installed. How do I go about formatting this drive? I can't seem do get to a DOS prompt where it allows me to do so.

A friend of mine told me that his Western Digital HDD has a format program on their website and told me to look on Samsung's site for a similiar program. Well, I wasn't able to find one, or maybe I didn't look in the right place.

Might anyone be able to help me out with the ''right'' way to format, or maybe drop me a link to a program to format please?

Thanks in advance,

Sarge

 

[mikecel79]

When you install the OS you will have the option to partition and format the drive. You can't format the drive the OS is on while in Windows.

If this is a secondary drive then right click My Computer and choose management. Look for Disk Management. You can use that to partition and format the drive from inside Windows. Doing a search for format in WinXP will bring up this information.

BTW this belongs in the OS forum.

 

[jbrock31]

IF its your primary hard drive and you want to do a CLEAN install, then The easiest and best way to format ,IMO, with xp is to just insert your xp cd into the drive and set your bios to boot from cd. You can do many things from here. If you need any further instructions, let me know.

As other poster said, if its a secondary disk, go to disk management and format from within windows.

 

[bluntman]

I'm assuming this is a second drive...

Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management

Double click on Storage in the right pane
Double click Disk Management (Local)

As long as your BIOS recognizes the drive (hopefully to its full capacity) you can format and partition it here.

 

[imported_Sarge]

Problem solved. Thanks for the help.

Sarge