You may want to format your hard drive for several reasons – to get rid of sensitive data, install a new operating system, clean up viruses or trojans or even just to get rid of old data. Some people do it because they want to sell. The most important thing to remember as you think about formatting is that it’s not always necessary to do so – it is actually a last resort. Many PC repairers and users think that this is the quickest option to get rid of a problem on your PC, but it is always recommended that you try other ways to get rid of the problem before you format – unless of course you want to get rid of the data completely.
So let’s assume you have decided that the only way out is to get your hard drive formatted. What is the best way to do it? Well, here’s a step by step guide on how to do it:
- You need to consider exactly why you are formatting the hard drive. If you want to introduce a newer version of Windows for example, a hard drive format may not be necessary. Windows provides software to replace the OS without necessarily going to all the trouble of formatting. Just acquire the re-installation disks and there will be wizards to guide you on what to do. If it’s a virus problem, get an antivirus or Trojan solution that will save you the trouble of formatting and re-installing data again.
- Ok, so it’s not a newer version of windows that you want, and its not viruses you’re getting rid of; you simply want a clean hard drive with no data on it. The first thing you must do is remember that formatting actually means cleaning everything off your hard disk. Once you’re done formatting, the hard disk will contain NO data. If you want any of the data from that disk, make a back-up. Use a CD, a DVD, or any kind of external back-up mode that will make it easy to re-install the data. If you want all the data, back up the entire hard drive. Just make sure to get whatever you need out of the hard drive before you get started formatting.
- It’s a manual process and does not require any pre-programmed software, but it’s also rather simple. Once your computer is on and in windows mode, go to MY COMPUTER. Assuming that your disk already had several partitions (Drive C, Drive D etc), right click on the partition that you want to format. A menu will pop up that has a format option.
- Once you click on the format option a dialog box will appear that gives you several options. Select NTFS for Windows XP and later versions. For older versions, you’ll see the option of FAT32. It will also ask you to enter a label for the disk you want formatted. Once you do this, select Quick Start and then Start. The formatting process has begun. Once complete, you’ll have a drive that formatted and ready for new data to be installed.
Something important to note – if you buy a computer as is from a manufacturer, most of them come partitioned and formatted, but some do not. If you get one that is not, you cannot store any data. The good news is you can do it yourself – both the partitioning and the formatting. Please click here to learn how to partition your hard disk before you format it.
