what do i do to reformat hard drive?

Mope · **what do i do to reformat hard drive? -** 09-03-2002, 03:09 PM

i'm selling this computer, and i thought it would be a good idea to start all clean and fresh. I heard i had to type something like c:/reformatt or something like that. just tell me the line for it, thanks

Rocket · 09-03-2002, 03:23 PM

Basically that's it. Typically I boot from a windows startup disk, which makes a RAM drive (acts like a hard drive, but in RAM). The ramdrive has the tools you'll need, and the command is simply "format c:"

I think you can also boot directly to DOS and run it from there. You'll have to know where the format.exe program is, which I would suggest finding in windows file explorer first. Then the command would be something like this:

c:\[specific_directory]\format c:

Hope this helps.

rudedog · 09-03-2002, 03:23 PM

the command is

[code:e0934]format c:[/code:e0934]

Then reinstall your OS, updates and drivers

Sorry but need to move this to off topic

Rev Aristotle Jones · 09-03-2002, 03:24 PM

format c: /s

will format the drive leaving just the system files to make it easier to put an os back on there

Rocket · 09-03-2002, 03:32 PM

Two thoughts:

Rude - when it gets moved, does it eventually disappear from the original forum?

Rev - I didn't know about the /s option, but it seems like one might want to go with a straight "format" because you never know what system files you may have toasted somewhere along the line. Not that it ever happens to me, lol. A friend told me about that happening to him. Right. Not me.
Hehe.

Sergeant_Scrotum · 09-03-2002, 03:35 PM

step one: get a large rather heavy hammer

step two: use hammer to distroy harddrive

its really that simple!

Rocket · 09-03-2002, 03:36 PM

[quote="Sargent_Scrotum":2ddc1]step one: get a large rather heavy hammer

step two: use hammer to distroy harddrive

its really that simple![/quote:2ddc1]

He said reformat. I think you're referring to reconfiguring. Hehe.

09-03-2002, 03:48 PM

no that's called upgrading windows.

rudedog · 09-03-2002, 04:06 PM

when I move a post, I have a choice of leaving a link in the old forum. It just moves down the line as people post other messages.

I can also move the post without leaving a link, but I don't like doing that.

yes, forgot about the /s switch. very useful

when formatting a drive, all your doing is removing the pointers from the partition. Your info is still readable with special software.
If you have sensitive info you may want to to a military format. Where someone can not retrieve any info from the computer once you sell it.

This replaces each block with a character that permanently removing any info thus making it useless to try and recover any data on the drive.

PM me for a link or I might have a free ware program lying around.

warmonger · 09-04-2002, 06:32 AM

if it's XP maximum-pc, july or august issue, has an article on reformating. for 9x june 2000 issue has one that i've used several times mad:

SoLiDUS · 09-04-2002, 07:19 AM

Boot from a start-up disk

Depending on whether you're going to install from another hard-drive or
cd-rom, you might want to load the cd-rom drivers.

Type Format [?]: /S ( [?] being the drive letter and /S to transfer system
files; command.com, io.sys ... etc)

Re-install Windows or desired OS.

May I make a suggestion ? If you have a cd-r or cd-rw, please make an
image of the drive as soon as all of your programs are installed and your
OS is configured: if you ever want to format again, just copy your image
back on it.

--==KILLAH==-- · 09-04-2002, 08:09 AM

If you need a great bootdisk or utility disk to aid in your reformatting escapades, try downloading one from:

[url:841c7]http://www.bootdisk.com[/url:841c7]

or

[url:841c7]http://www.littlewhitedog.com/default.asp[/url:841c7]

Bazooka_Joe · 09-04-2002, 12:07 PM

1) the /s option depends on the OS that willl be installed to the system next. When you install the OS, it will overwrite these files anyways, unless they match. So, there's not really a point to using the option, just do a format with "format X:"

2) If you have an OS like XP or 2000, it's rather difficult to format a HD, since these OS's no longer support DOS, only MS-DOS. Depending on your PC, you can go about this a few different ways.

-a) fool with your PC until somehow magically you can get into DOS (Trust me, I've seen it happen!)

-b) Get another HD, install an OS on it. connect the one you want to format as a slave, boot windows using the 2nd drive, format the 1st drive in windows. (pain in the ass method!)

-c) With the 2000/XP disc, you can boot the OS using "CD-ROM" support. While booting, you can get the option to cancel the boot, which brings you to a DOS prompt. Remember, this method is different by the PC, though.

--==KILLAH==-- · 09-04-2002, 12:55 PM

Oh, right.... forgot about the Win2k bootdisks!!

If you've got access to them, you'll need 4 floppies. Just use the Win2k bootdisk app in the Admintools folder on the CD. You can use them to boot to DOS and reformat your drive, partition it or do whatever you want.

That's what I do when I want a totally clean install of XP.

I think you can even D/L them from Bootdisk.com if you need to.

rudedog · 09-04-2002, 06:45 PM

[quote="--==KILLAH==--":e92c4]
[url:e92c4]http://www.bootdisk.com[/url:e92c4][/quote:e92c4]

That is one of my fav. sites. for boot disks.