How to format a hard drive so that Windows remains. How to format a hard drive before installing Windows in four different ways - step-by-step instructions
There are many reasons why you might want to format hard drive and remove information from it: a clean installation of Windows to get rid of a virus or malware due to the fact that you throw away or give the disk to someone. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about formatting a drive, including in Windows 10.
Steps you need to follow to format hard drive depend on several conditions: whether this is the only hard drive and whether you have a spare computer or not.
You cannot, for example, format a hard drive that is currently running Windows 10. In order to format a disk or reinstall Windows (or another operating system), you need to boot from the installation Windows disk, USB flash drive or liveCD.
Formatting is the process of erasing all data on a hard drive. But keep in mind that quick formatting Doesn't actually delete your data from your hard drive. The hard drive will appear empty, but physical level your data will remain in place and can be easily recovered. Quick formatting is suitable if your drive is brand new or you want to perform reinstalling Windows, but not suitable if you want to recycle the hard drive or give/sell it.
Attention: Before formatting the drive, make sure you have removed important data and documents from the hard drive. Although files can be recovered in some cases, it is still better not to take risks.
How to format a hard drive: partitions
Before you format your hard drive, you need to understand what hard drive partitions are. The hard drive's capacity can be divided into smaller pieces called partitions. You can format one partition while leaving the rest untouched.
This is useful in certain situations, but if you want to format the entire hard drive or use all the disk space in one partition, you also need to delete the hard drive partition information.
How to format a hard drive from BIOS
Many readers ask how to format a hard drive from the BIOS. Although you can perform many different operations through the BIOS, you cannot use it to format your hard drive or create or delete partitions.
If you need to format a drive and can't do it from Windows, you can create a bootable CD, DVD, or USB flash drive and run a free third-party format tool.
One such option is livecd Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN). This program will completely delete all data from the hard drive, allowing you to perform a clean installation of the OS or give away the disk. This process is irreversible, keep that in mind.
DBAN is only available as a CD/DVD-R image, but if you don't have a CD drive or a blank blank, you can easily create a bootable flash drive using a downloaded iso file.
Download and run the Universal USB Installer program, insert the flash drive into your computer and follow the program’s instructions. You will be asked to select the Linux distribution you want to install (in this case latest version DBAN) and then location iso file on your computer and the drive letter of the USB storage device. After this, click the “Create” button.
In BIOS, you need to change the boot order of devices and set your USB drive as the main boot drive. After you have saved the settings, restart your computer.
Your computer should automatically download DBAN, which will allow you to completely erase all data on your hard drive (options are possible). After DBAN is loaded into RAM computer, it is advisable to remove the bootable USB flash drive from the computer so as not to accidentally “overwrite” it.
How to format a RAID drive
If you have two or more drives configured as a RAID array, then you can use in different ways to format these drives. Before you use any of them, make sure you have completed the ones you want to keep.
- Use the software utility that came with your RAID controller or motherboard.
- Go into the RAID controller BIOS and look for the option to format the drive(s) or configure the RAID as individual drives (this will erase data from all drives).
- Disconnect the drive you want to format and connect it to another SATA port on motherboard, which is not part of the RAID controller. Then format the drive using the Disk Management utility in Windows
How to quickly format a hard drive
Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10 have a built-in management tool hard drives(see below), but it will be faster to do this:
- Go to Windows Explorer
- Right-click on the desired drive (you cannot format the partition on which the OS is installed).
- Select Format. By default, the checkbox is set to the “fast” formatting method. You can leave the rest of the settings unchanged and click “Start”. Within a minute your disk will be formatted.
Using the Disk Management utility
Enter diskmgmt.msc in the search engine Windows line Vista, 7, 8 or 10 and select the result shown. The Disk Management snap-in opens. This tool is not as flexible as, for example, the well-known Acronis, but it is quite enough to format a partition or resize it.
When you connect new hard drive to your computer, you may be surprised that it doesn't appear in Windows Explorer. The reason is that it must be initialized and formatted first - you can do this in Disk Management.
When you launch Disk Management, all drives on your computer will be analyzed. You will be able to initialize the necessary disks if necessary.
If your disk capacity is more than 2 TB, you need to select the GPT (GUID Partition Table) partition table. This table partitioning will also allow you to create more than 4 partitions.
Right-click on the drive that says “Not initialized” and select “Initialize.”
Once this is done, right-click on it and select “Create simple volume”. Specify the partition of the new disk volume and the letter you want to assign to it.
You can quickly format a disk in a similar way.
Resizing a Partition
You can use Disk Management to expand or shrink the partition. Simply right-click on the desired volume and select the appropriate option. If you want to reduce the partition, the program will tell you how much free space you can get by reducing the partition. You can adjust the new disk size using the sliders.
If free space is missing on the disk, the “Extend volume” option will be inactive.
So, today we learned how to format a hard drive, how to erase data completely from a hard drive, how to resize a hard drive partition, and how to format a RAID drive. I hope the article was useful to you.
Most often, it is necessary to format a hard drive before using it directly and is required by every owner personal computer. Thanks to the quality and volume that distinguishes modern hard drives, they can be used throughout the service life without additional reformatting. However, formatting your hard drive from time to time is the most convenient way to update it.
Since the Windows OS can become “littered,” that is, it can store old files on the disk that are not used by existing programs, which nevertheless occupy a certain amount of memory and can negatively affect the efficiency of the entire system. Various applications are periodically installed and uninstalled on each computer, resulting in a file dump that leads to serious problems, because each application becomes part of the operating system and affects the configuration of the entire environment.
To get out of this situation in the most optimal way, you should periodically format your hard drive and reinstall the operating system. This radical method is the most effective, since not only the disk is destroyed unnecessary files and information that clog the operating system, but also malware and viruses. That is why, before formatting the hard drive, you should write down all important information to avoid losing it. In addition, during formatting, special service electronic marks are applied to the disk, thanks to which you can find any necessary information and are guaranteed to work with it correctly (read and write). In addition to applying service marks to the hard drive, during the formatting procedure service information for the file system is also generated. Since unpartitioned disks are unusable, formatting is the first step in preparing any new disk for further use. As mentioned above, formatting is a way to quickly clean up a hard drive, as well as an effective way to check for defects and various defective areas, thereby significantly reducing the risk of data loss in the future.
What is the difference between quick and regular formatting?
operating room Windows system offers the user two formatting methods - quick ( Quick Format) and normal ( Format). For the uninitiated user, the difference between them lies in the time interval that each procedure takes. However, beyond this apparent factor, there is a deeper difference.
Quick formatting is a method of cleaning a disk that creates a new table of files without completely overwriting it and erasing the information present on the disk. Quick formatting takes less time than regular formatting. In essence, quick formatting resets the file table without destroying physical data, which can later be restored. This method is appropriate only if the hard drive has been previously formatted and the user is sure that there are no bad sectors on it.
By choosing the normal formatting mode, the user completely deletes files from the formatted disk, and also checks it for bad sectors. It is this check that takes the most time, which affects the overall duration of the entire operation.
About low-level formatting.
Previously, we were talking about so-called high-level formatting, but under normal operating conditions the concept low level formatting also very common. Under the conditions of this operation, special markings are applied to the surface of the disk, which are necessary for the normal operation of the drive. Thanks to it, not only the storage of all information and free access to it is carried out, but also the correct functioning of the internal systems of the drive itself and the hiding of existing physical flaws in the surface.
Is it possible to restore the necessary information after the formatting procedure?
It is worth noting right away that it is impossible to restore information after low-level formatting. If high-level formatting has been performed, then the chances of partially restoring previously destroyed information are quite significant, since during formatting new logical structures are created, and previous data is also partially overwritten.
Now let’s move from the theoretical to the practical part and try to format the hard drive ourselves. In this practical part, we will consider several options for formatting a hard drive from simple to complex, so:
1. An easy way to format your hard drive
Opening "My computer" and right-click on the disk that needs to be formatted. A menu appears and you need to select "Format". Then press the button "Begin".
To get there you need to do the following (for different Windows versions the path may be slightly different):
Open Start → Control Panel → Administrative Tools → Computer Management → Disk Management.
Here you select the disk that needs to be formatted and perform all the same operations as in the simple method.
3. Command line
First you need to open command line, to do this, press the keyboard shortcut WIN+R, in the window that appears, enter CMD and press ENTER.
You get to the command line, now we write in it:
format d:- format drive D:\
format c:-format drive C:\
After entering and pressing the key ENTER the following message will appear on the screen:
ATTENTION, ALL DATA ON THE FIXED DISK WITH: WILL BE DESTROYED! Start formatting?
If you are ready to delete, then put Y and press ENTER. Everything will be deleted!
4. Windows installation disc
If you have installation disk and you know how Windows is installed, you should know at what stage you can format the disks. Probably no one will ever use this option just for formatting, but it is very convenient if you are going to reinstall Windows immediately after formatting.
(80 Votes)
Sometimes situations arise when you need to clean your hard drive, that is, format it. C, D, E or any other. But in most cases, Windows OS is installed on logical drive C. She won't let you clean it up just like that. The rest are easy to clean completely.
There are three types of formatting:- We have nothing to do with low-level. After all, it is produced at a component manufacturing plant using special equipment. IN service center, not to mention at home, it won’t be possible to do it.
- The second formatting method involves dividing the logical media into several smaller sizes. That is, instead of one we get two or more disks. This manipulation can only be done when installing the OS.
- The third type is high-level formatting. It is divided into two subspecies. In the case of quick formatting, the files remain in their places, only the file table is updated, and the OS sees the disk as empty. This is very convenient when we do not want to completely lose data or have formatted it by mistake. When fully formatted, all information is erased without return, in addition, the system checks the device for serviceability. If a problem is detected, no data will be recorded.
Thus, from this article you learned how to format a hard drive in Windows. There is nothing complicated about this, as you can see, consolidate your knowledge by watching a thematic video.
As you know, the “format c:” command, originally related to MS-DOS tools, for computer systems with Windows on board it is used quite often. Let many people not be confused by the fact that support for MS-DOS by Microsoft was completed a very long time ago, since the system’s built-in tool in the form of a command console works exactly according to its principles, and some actions without the command line are impossible to perform at all, as well as to gain access to the hidden features of Windows. Next, we will consider the main aspects related to formatting and its practical application, without going too much into the technical components of additionally used attributes.
What is the "format c:" command?
As is already clear, the command itself is intended specifically for formatting the hard drive, but in this particular case we are talking purely about the system partition in which the operating system is installed (by Windows default is installed exactly on the “C” drive, unless another location is specified, for example, when installing a second OS on a virtual partition).
I would immediately like to draw the attention of all users to the fact that this toolkit can only be used on the command line. For the “format c:” command itself, it is possible to use some additional attributes that allow you to activate certain options, depending on what action needs to be performed when formatting a system or logical partition.
Areas of application of the command
First, let's determine when this command may be needed, and then move on to its practical use.
For the most part, disk formatting is required when installing an operating system or reinstalling it after critical failures or viral impact when restoring functionality using Windows tools or removing virus threats is impossible.
The command can also be used when hard partitioning disk into additional partitions using diskpart tools (however, in this case, it is not the “C” drive that is formatted, but the created logical partition). Actions with the system partition are performed only in the situations described above. Sometimes such measures even help restore the performance of the hard drive.
Some nuances associated with starting formatting
Somewhat distracting from the description of the “format c:” command, I would like to cheer up the readers. There is such a good joke when the support service receives a phone call:
Word doesn't work for me, what should I do?
Do you have Word on your C drive?
Type: “format c:” and press Enter.
Will it help?
And how! The most effective remedy!
But this is, of course, a joke. The fact is that in a loaded (working) system, no matter how hard you try, it is impossible to format the disk (system partition). Windows simply won’t allow you to do this (well, the system won’t give permission to self-destruct?).
Thus, the question of how to do “format c:” comes down to initially booting from removable media, then calling the console and using the command in its environment. Sometimes, however, you can encounter non-standard situations.
For example, a user has two Windows systems of different modifications installed. One is located on the “C” drive, the second is installed on the “D” drive. Formatting the “C” partition can be done by booting into the environment of the second system and calling the command console in it.
The same can be observed in the case when some kind of virtual machine with the tested “operating system”, which is a complete resemblance of a real computer, but in a virtual form.
View all command line attributes
But let's return to the main command "format c:". The Command Prompt allows you to perform many operations using this feature. In order not to describe absolutely all the attributes used, any user can be advised to review them themselves.
Just open the command line and enter the command “format /?” in it. After completing it, the screen will appear full list additional attributes with detailed description each of them.
Practical formatting
Now about the practical use of the “format c:” command. Windows systems will not allow you to do this, so we assume that the boot is done from removable media (installation or recovery disk or flash drive).
Entering the command in its standard form will completely format the specified partition. If you set the additional attribute “/Q”, this will lead to Quick format. The average user is unlikely to perform setting cluster sizes or other specific actions, so for now we can limit ourselves to this simple example.
Formatting when creating new partitions
Creating new partitions and bootable media looks much more interesting. True, the “format c:” command is not used in this case, as such, but familiarity with the general use of the format command may be useful to many users:
When using the "diskpart" toolkit, it is sometimes necessary to create a primary partition and then activate the boot partition. At one of the stages it is necessary to perform formatting (you can even manually specify the preferred file system), for which an additional operator “FS” is introduced, after which the type is indicated, for example NTFS systems. If such a pointer is not used, formatting will be performed while maintaining the current system.
The use of such tools sometimes allows you to quickly change the disk format from unreadable (RAW) to regular. This is much faster than trying to change it using the same operating system tools.
When using the general command, if the /U attribute was not initially specified, it is possible to undo the formatting by issuing the UNFORMAT command, since the old file distribution table along with the root directory are preserved. However, such actions mostly relate to processes associated with removable media and logical partitions.
In conclusion
That's all briefly about the formatting command. The description of each applied attribute was not specifically considered here, since most users in practical use find them unnecessary and are mainly required system administrators or specialists involved in the repair of computer equipment (in particular hard drives).
But even the general knowledge presented above will help any user understand why the described command is needed, how and where it is used. However, situations are different, so you shouldn’t neglect using formatting via the command line, especially since overall team used even when manually creating bootable media using the operating system, which eliminates the use of third-party software.-
Formatting hard disk - the process of creating a file system on its partition, accompanied by the deletion of data and the creation of a new file system structure. Functionality for formatting hard drives and solid-state drives is contained in almost all modern operating systems, but the standard mechanism is not always optimal and applicable. This material will tell you in more detail how to format a hard drive in several ways.
Format HDD regular means very simple. To do this, you need to select the desired partition in Explorer, right-click and select “Format” from the pop-up menu.
In the menu that opens, select formatting options. It is recommended to use NTFS as the file system, and leave the cluster size as standard. Checking the box next to “Quick formatting” significantly speeds up the process, but only the FS table is created anew. The data itself physically remains on the disk, although it becomes inaccessible. If you do not check the box, all data will be physically erased (filling each memory cell with zeros), but the process will take a long time. A hard drive with a capacity of several terabytes will take hours to format. But such formatting allows you to permanently destroy data, for example, when transferring the drive to a new owner.
An alternative way to format the HDD using standard means is through the “Control Panel”. To do this, you need to find the “Administration” menu, select “Computer Management” in it and in the left column find “Disk Management.” The menu that opens will display all drives in the form of a structure. The advantage of this method is that this way you can format disks that do not have a partition and therefore are not displayed in Explorer.
How to format a hard drive via the command line
To format a disk via the command line, there is a utility command called format. To use it, you need to run the command line as an administrator and enter the format command. It should look like this:
format [drive letter]:- formatting will happen without any questions, into the same FS that is on the disk, in a slow way (with complete erasing).
format [drive letter]: /q — the “/q” flag triggers a quick format, without physically clearing the contents of its memory. The flag can be placed in combination with any other keys.
format [drive letter]: fs:[file system]— formatting the selected partition into one of the supported file systems: NTFS, FAT, FAT32.
format [drive letter]: fs:[file system] /q- the same thing, but with quick formatting.
How to format your hard drive before installing Windows
To format your hard drive before installing Windows, you need to select a full installation, wait until the partition selection menu for installation appears, click on the desired drive and press the “Format” button at the bottom. The system will independently determine the optimal formatting method, file system type and cluster size. The whole process takes less than a minute.
Before you format your hard drive, installing Windows may require creating additional system partitions to load the OS. The screenshot below shows that such a partition takes up 100 MB. It stores part of the system bootloader.
The disadvantage of formatting this way is that you can't manually manipulate the parameters. Ordinary users do not need this, but sometimes they need FAT32 instead of the standard NTFS system. For example, such a need arises on tablets with Intel processors and two installed OS (Windows + Android), like the ten-inch Chuwi Hi10. In order for the Windows partition to be visible from Android, it must be formatted in a compatible file system. Work with NTFS without special plugins and third party programs The “green robot” can’t.
The correct answer to this question is “not at all.” Computer bios It is intended for slightly different purposes and does not have functionality for working with HDD. Usually, “formatting from under Bios” is popularly called formatting via the command line in a text operating system(for example, MS-DOS). The advantage of this solution is that you can even work with a system partition that is not in use.
For hard disk format via boot disk with DOS you need to create an image of such an OS, write it to a flash drive and copy the formatting utility there. Instead of DOS you can also use special program for working with HDD, for example, GParted. This option is preferable as it is more functional.
To format a HDD from BIOS using a bootable USB flash drive, you need to download. This is an automatic installer that will download and write the latest version of Gparted to a flash drive.
After creating the flash drive, you need to restart the PC, go into Bios (usually by pressing DEl or F2) and find Boot menu. In it you should select the item containing the words “Boot device priority” or something similar in meaning. Among them, you should put your flash drive first. Then you need to press F10, agree to save the settings and wait for loading from the flash drive.
In the loaded menu of the GParted program, you need to select the language, select the disk and find the item responsible for formatting. You can select the file system, cluster size, format type, and other options.
