reformatting hard drives

[I3rianL]

i have windows xp pro installed on both hard drives in my computer. but lately my computer has been messed up and i want to reformat both of the drives so they are completely clean. the only problem is that windows wont let me reformat my drives because it says they contain necessary information for my computer to function. is there any other way to reformat my hard drives?

 

[stars]

Are you trying to format them from gui/explorer? If so, try booting from the Windows disc. You should be able to format them then. If that fails grab a 3rd party tool or a linux distro.

 

[IEC]

Darik's Boot and Nuke, either floppy or CD-ROM. DBAN is the best!

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: ariafrost
Darik's Boot and Nuke, either floppy or CD-ROM. DBAN is the best!

:thumbsup:

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: I3rianL
i have windows xp pro installed on both hard drives in my computer. but lately my computer has been messed up and i want to reformat both of the drives so they are completely clean. the only problem is that windows wont let me reformat my drives because it says they contain necessary information for my computer to function. is there any other way to reformat my hard drives?

The manufacturer of your HDD's likely has free tools for d/l to get the job done too.

Fern

 

[ITJunkie]

If you have a Win98 boot floppy you can run FDisk from there and wipe them both clean.

 

[Phoenix86]

Folks, he's trying to format his active partition. I don't think showing him DBAN is going to help...

 

[Nothinman]

Folks, he's trying to format his active partition. I don't think showing him DBAN is going to help...

Sure it will, it'll wipe the drive clean and let him start over.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

Folks, he's trying to format his active partition. I don't think showing him DBAN is going to help...

Sure it will, it'll wipe the drive clean and let him start over.

You're teh :evil:

He obviously can't get to the "start over" part if he's missing step 1, which is why he's trying to format from the active partition. He needs to boot to the XP disk and run the install from there. No need to reinvent the install process, especially for someone trying to do what the OP is, and asking the question he is.

 

[Nothinman]

You're teh

Not really, he wants to wipe both drives and start over and DBAN (and many other drive wiping tools) will let him do that. The partition tool in the Windows installer is ass, it might be easier for him to do the format and reinstallation as two seperate steps.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

You're teh

Not really, he wants to wipe both drives and start over and DBAN (and many other drive wiping tools) will let him do that. The partition tool in the Windows installer is ass, it might be easier for him to do the format and reinstallation as two seperate steps.

I understand what you're saying (how DBAN is usefull), but he can't even get to the installer...

DBAN isn't what I'd consider a novice tool, where the OP is a little ignorant (no offense meant to the OP, see sig). Heck, if he doesn't understand what DBAN is, and why it's used, he'll have no idea why he's running it.

Honestly I'm surprised it was even recommended since the OP isn't looking for a secure wipe.

 

[P0ldy]

What are you going to put on the computer instead?

Whatever OS you use, it'll prompt you to format the drives...