How to format a hard drive?

[sucker4gurls]

My father has an external hard drive that he uses to back up files from his laptop onto and he would like to back up everything. But in order to do that apparently he needs to reformat the harddrive. It is in fat-32 and he needs to change that. How would one go about doing this?

[usa320]

http://www.madlantern.com/clipart/clips/construction/hammer.gif

[sucker4gurls]

http://www.madlantern.com/clipart/clips/construction/hammer.gif
and a red X helps me how?

[usa320]

wtf???it works for me...

[sucker4gurls]

wtf???it works for me...
403 Forbidden

[Bia]

How to format a hard drive?
A 12 Gauge works well.

;)

[TheKiwi]

OK, I am assuming that you want to keep the external drive formatted the same as the laptop drive. I am also assuming that you are running Windows XP or 2000 (if not, time to upgrade).

Click on 'Start' the select 'Run'. In the run box type 'cmd', then click on OK.

This will open the command window. Next you need to format the drive. It should have been assigned a drive letter like E: or F:. Type in the command window 'Format E:' and press Enter. You will be asked to confirm that you want to overwrite the disk, choose 'Y'. NB: This will delete all data from that disk, so be real sure.

Now sit back and wait for it to finish. This may take a while depending upon the speed of the laptop and the drive.

Hope this helps.

[rolls]

GOTO

START
ControlPanel
Administrative Tools
Computer Management
Disk Management.

Right click the partition/Drive you want to reformat (make sure you tick the box that says 'Quick' when it appears.

[Adumb]

Ctrl+Alt+Delete Ctrl+A+Delete

[signatory]

Nice replies but no one fully answered his question...


My father has an external hard drive that he uses to back up files from his laptop onto and he would like to back up everything. But in order to do that apparently he needs to reformat the harddrive. It is in fat-32 and he needs to change that. How would one go about doing this?

Double-Click on the "My Computer" icon

Select the drive to format.

In the Menu select File->Format

A similar window will pop up, select the file system to use. I assume NTFS.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/1032/formatntfs12ph.gif
Start...

[JoaMei]

This works best:

http://mirror-uk-th2.gallery.hd.org/_exhibits/natural-science/horseshoe-magnet-red-silver-iron-filings-AHD.jpg

[GazB]

Changing the format type I would reccomend not using quick format... a full format doesn't take that long unless it is a huge drive. Make sure you run a check disk after you format it to find any bad sectors. (note you can try to fix the bad sectors but if they keep coming up bad it is best to flag them as bad so they are not used so you don't lose data)

[Shadow]

Get yourself a big magnet that will do the trick in no time!

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Get yourself a big magnet that will do the trick in no time!

Heh heh don't laugh...back when laptops were first issued in the USAF, our LtC brought his pride and joy with him on a deployment. He walked by my SATCOM van, got to close to the large spraypainted warning on the side, and suddenly it didn't work any more. Don't taunt the klystron! :)

[Laworkerbee]

Heh heh don't laugh...back when laptops were first issued in the USAF, our LtC brought his pride and joy with him on a deployment. He walked by my SATCOM van, got to close to the large spraypainted warning on the side, and suddenly it didn't work any more. Don't taunt the klystron! :)

rofl priceless!

[JustYourAverageJoe]

So I assume your SATCOM van had a large spraypainted sign that said "MAGNET INSIDE STAY AWAY" woot




Heh heh don't laugh...back when laptops were first issued in the USAF, our LtC brought his pride and joy with him on a deployment. He walked by my SATCOM van, got to close to the large spraypainted warning on the side, and suddenly it didn't work any more. Don't taunt the klystron! :)