Do I need a special program to format my hard drive? - Club CDFreaks

pavlekocev25 · 07-10-2005

Do I need a special program to format my hard drive?
I mean, can't the hard drive formats by itself?
I have Win XP installed and I am trying to find a way how to format the hard drive but notning...

Another thing:
I have Partition Magic 8 on a software CD but I am affraid to format the HD with this program before asking someone for advice and proper instructions.
I also have the Windows XP Professional Install CD.

Thanks in advance guys,
Pavle

*crossg* · 07-10-2005

Acually your Windows XP Pro CD will do it all. Simply go to your Bios and set your boot to the Optical drive with the XP Pro CD to first boot device. Press enter when it says boot to CD and Windows will go through an install procedure and give you the option to do select the drive you want to install Windows on and then give you the option to do a quick or full format. You can even use it to make several partitions. Once that is done Windows will install on the formatted drive. Pretty simple just follow the prompts. Lots of other ways to format but without getting too involved this is one way. HTH.

BTW Full Format is better IMO but it takes a while.

Edit: If your Hard drive is larger than 130 Gb you will need to get a utility from your HD manufacturer to see the full drive as Windows only sees around 130 GB and will not format the whole drive.

**TimC** · 07-10-2005

No need for the Windows XP CD.
Just go into Control Manager->Admin Tools-> Computer Management & Disk Management.
Right click on the new HD & off you go.

*phil_* · 07-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossg

Edit: If your Hard drive is larger than 130 Gb you will need to get a utility from your HD manufacturer to see the full drive as Windows only sees around 130 GB and will not format the whole drive.

not really service pack 1 or 2 will get the job done anyway i recommend integrating sp prior installing , a "utility" from hd manufacturer to create dynamic drive overlay is needed only when the bios is too old to identify the hds full capacity

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimC

No need for the Windows XP CD.
Just go into Control Manager->Admin Tools-> Computer Management & Disk Management.
Right click on the new HD & off you go.

depends , if he have only 1 hd and he wanna reinstall then theres defintly a need for the windows cd but if he just wanna format a second hd then thats a good method , from what i understand he have only 1

**harley2ride** · 07-10-2005

And just because you are asking a fairly noob question, I want to make sure that you understand that formatting your hd will erase all existing data...

*crossg* · 07-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by phil_

not really service pack 1 or 2 will get the job done anyway i recommend integrating sp prior installing , a "utility" from hd manufacturer to create dynamic drive overlay is needed only when the bios is too old to identify the hds full capacity

Good to know. How do you integrate the SP before install so I will know the next time I format my 160 GB. Just did mine two weeks ago and got the 128 GB thing with unpartioned space left on the drive (forgot about the issue). So I reformated with Max blast. TIA.

*zebadee* · 07-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimC

No need for the Windows XP CD.
Just go into Control Manager->Admin Tools-> Computer Management & Disk Management.
Right click on the new HD & off you go.

Hi

If his OS is on this drive that will not work.

*zebadee* · 07-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavlekocev25

Do I need a special program to format my hard drive?
I mean, can't the hard drive formats by itself?
I have Win XP installed and I am trying to find a way how to format the hard drive but notning...

Another thing:
I have Partition Magic 8 on a software CD but I am affraid to format the HD with this program before asking someone for advice and proper instructions.
I also have the Windows XP Professional Install CD.

Thanks in advance guys,
Pavle

Hi

If you want to keep Windows XP, but tidy up & format the drive. Then PM 8 will let you do that. First install PM 8 & when it asks to for two floppies to create rescue disks. Do that. You can then get PM 8 running from Windows. The menu is fairly comprehensive, so enter what you want.ie You could have a partition with Windows on, another with office etc. It will then give a preview without many any changes. If your happy then you proceed with changes. Your system will boot, make changes, then reboot. Job done.

*phil_* · 07-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossg

How do you integrate the SP before install

sp1 slipstream guide
sp2 slipstream guide

*crossg* · 07-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by phil_

sp1 slipstream guide
sp2 slipstream guide

Thx Phil.

*Gurm* · 07-10-2005

Yikes. Get "Max Blast" off that drive ASAP. Drive Overlays are horrid little things. I am NOT a big fan of using software to work around something that should be fixed in hardware. Seriously.

*crossg* · 08-10-2005

OK followed the SP2 Slipstream guide to the letter. What am I doing wrong?

*zebadee* · 08-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossg

OK followed the SP2 Slipstream guide to the letter. What am I doing wrong?

Hi

Is your Windows oem. I notice in the article it mentions problems with SP2 & oem versions of Windows.

*crossg* · 08-10-2005

Hi Zabadee.

No It's XP Professional not an OEM Version..

*phil_* · 08-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossg

OK followed the SP2 Slipstream guide to the letter. What am I doing wrong?

this

you should use a \ instead

Quote:

Originally Posted by zebadee

Hi

Is your Windows oem. I notice in the article it mentions problems with SP2 & oem versions of Windows.

indeed but that doesnt apply to all oem versions,only those with integrated software updates

*crossg* · 08-10-2005

Thx Phil.

Well I gave it a try and the same error message comes up as you can tell I am not good with DOS prompts.

Quote:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>C:\XP-SP2 /WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU /integrate:C:\XP-CD
'C:\XP-SP2' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>

EDIt: Got it to work as I had a space in between C:\XP-SP2 /WindowsXP. So the correct prompt is:
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>C:\XP-SP2/WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU /integrate:C:\XP-CD
Thank you again.

*iss* · 08-10-2005

I have slipstreamed service packs into my OS for the past couple of years but I dont find any reason to do it manually anymore. Nlite, is a program that not only allows you to remove any unwanted windows programs, it also now slipstreams service packs as well as post SP2 hotfixes and then makes the ISO. it is a very simple program to use and is much quicker than the manual method.

http://www.nliteos.com/

pavlekocev25 · 08-10-2005

Thanks everyone for the replies.
I will use your suggestions and see what I can do.

Pavle

07-10-2005	#1 (permalink)
pavlekocev25 CD Freaks Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Macedonia Posts: 139	Do I need a special program to format my hard drive? Do I need a special program to format my hard drive? I mean, can't the hard drive formats by itself? I have Win XP installed and I am trying to find a way how to format the hard drive but notning... Another thing: I have Partition Magic 8 on a software CD but I am affraid to format the HD with this program before asking someone for advice and proper instructions. I also have the Windows XP Professional Install CD. Thanks in advance guys, Pavle

07-10-2005	#2 (permalink)
crossg Retired Moderator & Reviewer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Calgary, Alberta. Canada Posts: 4,654	Re: Do I need a special program to format my hard drive? Acually your Windows XP Pro CD will do it all. Simply go to your Bios and set your boot to the Optical drive with the XP Pro CD to first boot device. Press enter when it says boot to CD and Windows will go through an install procedure and give you the option to do select the drive you want to install Windows on and then give you the option to do a quick or full format. You can even use it to make several partitions. Once that is done Windows will install on the formatted drive. Pretty simple just follow the prompts. Lots of other ways to format but without getting too involved this is one way. HTH. BTW Full Format is better IMO but it takes a while. Edit: If your Hard drive is larger than 130 Gb you will need to get a utility from your HD manufacturer to see the full drive as Windows only sees around 130 GB and will not format the whole drive. __________________ My PC Specs. Plextor 760A/716A 1.07/1.10, BenQ DW1655, BCIB, BenQ DW1640 x2, BSLB, Nec 4551A, 1.08. Lite On SHM 165P6S/LH-20A1S, MS0R/9L05. LG GSA H22N/H62N, 1.02/CL01. SH-S203B, SB03. The Forum Rules Click here to join CDFreaks.com. Last edited by crossg; 07-10-2005 at 17:41. Reason: Add info

07-10-2005	#3 (permalink)
TimC Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Do I need a special program to format my hard drive? No need for the Windows XP CD. Just go into Control Manager->Admin Tools-> Computer Management & Disk Management. Right click on the new HD & off you go.

07-10-2005	#5 (permalink)
harley2ride Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,580	Re: Do I need a special program to format my hard drive? And just because you are asking a fairly noob question, I want to make sure that you understand that formatting your hd will erase all existing data... __________________ Rob C2D E6550,3gb DDR2-800mhz,150gb 10000rpm raptor,320gb sata,geforce 8800 gt, Vista Premium, 22" Samsung LCD,Samsung bluray DVD reader\dvd\rw16x, Samsung S203N, ADS Pyro A/V Link,Klipsch Pro-Media 5.1 SS Dell P4 3.4GHZ 2GB PC533 DDR XP PRO SP2 w/ADS Pyro Firewire card,160GB Sata, 250GB ATA133, ATI 2600XT HD/ DELL 20" LCD/ ALS 251 5.1 Speakers / Audigy 2 ZS Platinum / Plextor PX716A / MD (NEC3500) 2FD firmware

07-10-2005	#11 (permalink)
Gurm CDFreaks Resident Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,940	Re: Do I need a special program to format my hard drive? Yikes. Get "Max Blast" off that drive ASAP. Drive Overlays are horrid little things. I am NOT a big fan of using software to work around something that should be fixed in hardware. Seriously.

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08-10-2005	#14 (permalink)
crossg Retired Moderator & Reviewer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Calgary, Alberta. Canada Posts: 4,654	Re: Do I need a special program to format my hard drive? Hi Zabadee. No It's XP Professional not an OEM Version.. __________________ My PC Specs. Plextor 760A/716A 1.07/1.10, BenQ DW1655, BCIB, BenQ DW1640 x2, BSLB, Nec 4551A, 1.08. Lite On SHM 165P6S/LH-20A1S, MS0R/9L05. LG GSA H22N/H62N, 1.02/CL01. SH-S203B, SB03. The Forum Rules Click here to join CDFreaks.com.

08-10-2005	#17 (permalink)
iss CDFreaks Resident Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 975	Re: Do I need a special program to format my hard drive? I have slipstreamed service packs into my OS for the past couple of years but I dont find any reason to do it manually anymore. Nlite, is a program that not only allows you to remove any unwanted windows programs, it also now slipstreams service packs as well as post SP2 hotfixes and then makes the ISO. it is a very simple program to use and is much quicker than the manual method. http://www.nliteos.com/ __________________ We all do no end of feeling and some mistake it for thinking --- Mark Twain

08-10-2005	#18 (permalink)
pavlekocev25 CD Freaks Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Macedonia Posts: 139	Re: Do I need a special program to format my hard drive? Thanks everyone for the replies. I will use your suggestions and see what I can do. Pavle

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