[Ham-Computers] Hard Drive Formatter

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

If your plan is to install WinXP from "scratch", then the easiest way is to remove any existing partitions from the drive.  You can do this with "FDISK" from a DOS disk, something like "Parted" for Linux, or the "Disk Management" utility in Win2K/XP (or it's command-line counterpart "diskpart").  Essentially, just remove the partition(s) and you're done.  When you run the Windows installer, select the non-partitioned drive and create a primary partition.  Then have the installer format the drive prior to copying the Windows files (the other option is a "Quick" format that just creates the basic file structure).

>>> You wrote:
I just want to process the C: Drive.

>>> My reply:
If by this you mean that there is more than one partition on the drive, then just remove the "Primary" partition on that drive and leave the rest alone.


FYI, there are several free/opensource partitioning apps available for download.  GParted comes to mind, but I've never used it.  It's available on a "Live" linux CD that boots from your CD/DVD-ROM drive.  For a Windows based solution, BartPE should have a partition editor.

As always, when using any disk partitioning manager, be *VERY* careful - make sure you've selected the correct drive/volume/partition before applying any command.  It's quite easy to accidentally delete something, even with a pretty GUI.


73,

  - Aaron, NN6O


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 8:25 AM
Subject: [Ham-Computers] Hard Drive Formatter

"Formatter" probably is the incorrect word, but I'm looking for an application that prepares the drive so you don't install XP over an existing setup and  eliminates the possibility that malware can still cause problems after a reinstall.  Security isn't an issue as I'm not getting rid of the hard drive.  Some CD's that come with a new drive include a zero-fill, but it is very slow and works on the entire drive.  I just want to process the C: Drive.

Any suggestions?

Jim