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Formatting a hard drive?

Tags:
  • Windows
  • Formatting
  • Hard Drives
  • Format
Last response: in Memory
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September 22, 2014 6:45:18 PM

I've just bought a new hard drive and it will be arriving tomorrow and i was just wondering how do i format it. I know basic windows formatting(right-click→format) but i am wondering if i need to do something special on it. I will be using the one i have and the other one but the one that i have now is in really bad shape (16% health) so it will probably die pretty soon, so can i format the hard drive while my system is on the other one?

More about : formatting hard drive

September 22, 2014 6:51:01 PM

You really don't need to worry about formatting, as a separate operation, unless you want to.

If you are installing any operating system, it will ask you how and what to format, during the instalation.

If you are cloning the old drive, the clone program will ask what to do about format.
The hard drive maker will have a free downloadable program for cloning

The only other operation is partitioning, if you need that.


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September 22, 2014 6:51:34 PM

Yes your method will work - format NTFS. Another method is to go to Control Panel ---> Administrative Tools ---> Computer Management ---> Disk Management. Then select the new HDD and format NTFS.
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September 22, 2014 6:52:31 PM

The clone program will be the operating system while cloning, so the old drive only has to be readable
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September 22, 2014 7:00:04 PM

I also don't recommend cloning, if there is a possibility of any malware or virus on the drive.

Backup, and clean install, in that case.
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September 22, 2014 7:04:34 PM

millwright said:
You really don't need to worry about formatting, as a separate operation, unless you want to.

If you are installing any operating system, it will ask you how and what to format, during the instalation.

If you are cloning the old drive, the clone program will ask what to do about format.
The hard drive maker will have a free downloadable program for cloning

The only other operation is partitioning, if you need that.




Yes i want to install OS but not to clone my HDD. How is partitioning done? Is it while installing the OS or something separate? I wanna install Windows 7 btw.
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Best solution

September 22, 2014 7:09:18 PM

When you start the install it will ask about Partitions and formatting, in the first few minutes.

You have to partition first, then format.

You can save formatting any additional partition until after the install.

All you need to format for the install, is the one you are installing the OS on.

You can format the remainder, in My Computer when the install is done.
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September 23, 2014 6:21:23 AM

One more thing.
If there are already partitions, delete the existing partitions to start the partitioning process
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September 23, 2014 9:35:27 AM

millwright said:
One more thing.
If there are already partitions, delete the existing partitions to start the partitioning process


There are. How do i delete them?
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September 23, 2014 9:40:04 AM

I can't remember exactly, but I believe you highlight each partition, and hit the delete button.

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September 23, 2014 12:58:44 PM

You're Welcome
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!