How do you use a HDD for the first time?

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

I mean when you buy a new HDD what do you do before you use it? Format? quick format? no format? what do you recommend?

Put it through 2 rounds of sector scans, either using WinDLG or DFT.
If it passes, then quickformat to whatever FS you want.
Proceed to keep an eye on it for the next week or so (infant mortality).

 

[NoobyDoo]

First I use gparted from Parted Magic (http://partedmagic.com/doku.php?id=downloads) to create the partitions - gparted creates properly aligned partitions ( aligned at 1 MB sector ).
Then full format from a win 7 pe.
I do not know if win 7 allows creation of multiple primary partitions, I've been using gparted for a long time.