Formatting a hard drive?

borko3fkovix · Sep 22, 2014

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?

millwright · Sep 22, 2014

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.

Dark Lord of Tech · Sep 22, 2014

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-format-hard-disk-partition#create-format-hard-disk-partition=windows-7
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows7/ss/format-hard-drive-windows-7-tutorial.htm

Ubrales · Sep 22, 2014

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.

millwright · Sep 22, 2014

The clone program will be the operating system while cloning, so the old drive only has to be readable

millwright · Sep 22, 2014

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.

borko3fkovix · Sep 22, 2014

millwright :

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.

millwright · Sep 22, 2014

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.

millwright · Sep 23, 2014

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

borko3fkovix · Sep 23, 2014

millwright :

There are. How do i delete them?

millwright · Sep 23, 2014

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

millwright · Sep 23, 2014

Here ya go.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52291-partition-hard-drive-windows-7-install.html

Don't get confused when Windows creates it's own small partition, it is normal.

borko3fkovix · Sep 23, 2014

millwright :

Ok, thanks a lot for the help!

millwright · Sep 23, 2014

You're Welcome

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