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i need to format my harddrive and need alot of help. my harddrive is 13 gigs and is partitioned into a (C)& (D) drive. i would like to format both drives and repartition them. it's a custom built pc and i have all the original software from when it was built. i'd like to erase EVERYTHING off of it and start from a clean slate.can someone please give me step by step directions, or guide me to a website that has all the info i need. i checked the How tos, but i beleive it's for a blank hd. somebody please help.
Sure. Personally I use a freeware program named Ranish Partition Manager for working with partitions. Download and install, then use the included app to install Ranish to a bootable floppy disk. Your hard drive manufacturer probably has a simnilar utility for download at their website - I know Seagate has an excellent program.
Do you want to keep it two partitions, or just have one?
Either was, here are the basic steps: Delete the exsting partitions. Create one or more new partitions. Format the partition(s) with the FAT32 file type. Install Windows from scratch. Reinstall graphic card, sound card, etc. drivers.
If you want to keep the partitions the exact size they are now, there's no reason to dlete them. Simply reformat them as they are.
You're good to go.
-Bob
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i do want to keep the partitions the same size.
how do i go about reformatting both?? and what is ranish partition manager for?? please be patient. thanx
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Reformatting the partitions will erase ~all~ data, leaving clean partitions for a fresh installation of Windows. That sounds like what you're looking for.
When you download, install, and start Ranish, click on "a" and insert a good floppy disk. A DOS operating system and Ranish Partition Manager will be installed to the floppy. Restart the computer with the floppy inserted, DOS operating system and Ranish will be running.
Post back if you can't get that far, or get to that point and have more questions.
-Bob
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Really not necessary to use Ranish. You can boot from a startup floppy and type:
format c:
Follow the instructions to complete the operation. Then type:
format d:
and do the same for the second partition.
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I second max's response.
If you don't want to change the partition, then you don't have to repartitionWhen all else fails, beat the %*#$! out of it!!!
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Yep, a Windows startup floppy will work just as well. I got started on Rasish assuming he would to re-arrange the partitions. For dividing the hard drive into partitions, Ranish is easier to understand and view what's going on.
Either way is super-easy.
-Bob
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you don't need to download anything from anywhere to format your disk with the mentioned partitions as long as you have your bootsisk.just boot-up from the floppy chose "start comp without cd-rom",wait untill it loads and when you see the A:\ just type format c: (don't forget the space and the colon and when you're done with c do the same thing and type format d: and voila! your hd is formated
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