Making old HDD external storage

cliffhucker · 04-08-2007, 07:19 PM

Hi,

I have an old hdd out of a friends old pc.

I installed it in an external hdd enclosure.

It is a 60GB drive.

I tried to reformat it to clear everything off it and it only formatted 9.71 GB

It says (right clicking "properties") that there is 53 MB used.

How can I format the whole drive to NTFS?

When I right click the drive in m"My Computer" and select "format" the only choice is for 9.76GB.

Could this have something to do with LINUX? I think he was dual booting with windows???

Thanks for any help.

Cheers

JohnthePilot · 04-08-2007, 07:35 PM

Is the drive partitioned? If so you will need to go into Disk Management and remove the partitions.

cliffhucker · 04-08-2007, 07:53 PM

Yep there were partitions and I deleted them.

But now the drive does not show up in "my computer"//

Any ideas?

Thanks

cliffhucker · 04-08-2007, 08:26 PM

Yep there were partitions and I deleted them.

Ok, now there is just one partition but it is only 38.27GB according to diskmgmt.msc.

However under properties in "my computer" it says:
Free space 38.2 GB
Used space 65.6

And the used space is just a sliver in the pie chart.

Is this linux hiding it or something???

Is there a command prompt that would get it?

Thanks

**src2206** · 04-08-2007, 08:38 PM

Hello there

Instead of using windows disk management, use Gparted Live CD.

Here is one guide of using Gparted for you: http://sroyc.blogspot.com/2006/12/gp...credit-of.html

cliffhucker · 04-08-2007, 08:40 PM

thanks

i will look into it now

cliffhucker · 04-08-2007, 08:42 PM

isnt that for if you want linux?
Gparted

I want nothing to do with linux

**Deleted090308** · 04-08-2007, 09:02 PM

Hi,
src2206 has posted a good link (but, I think the guide is written for Linux envionment). You could try Partition Logic. It's a free program that will let you get rid of any Linux partitions - but the program is not capable of NTSF formatting, you have to do that in Disk management. Perhaps the easiest solution is the one suggested by JohnthePilot - enter Disk Management in Windows. You do that by right-clicking My computer > manage > Disk management. In disk management you choose the partitions to delete (all?). Then you right-click the drive (in Disk management) and choose "New partition" and follow the wizard.

Nicholas

cliffhucker · 04-08-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

src2206 has posted a good link (but, I think the guide is written for Linux envionment)

Yeah I think he is just Linux crazy and that is the only word he saw in my posts.

thanks for the partition logic leed.

I will use that then reformat to NTFS.

I hope.

thanks again.

chyeers

**Deleted090308** · 04-08-2007, 09:40 PM

I think you should try Windows "Disk management" first.

cliffhucker · 04-08-2007, 09:54 PM

Quote:

I think you should try Windows "Disk management" first.

You didnt read the entire post either!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Been there

**Deleted090308** · 04-08-2007, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffhucker

You didnt read the entire post either!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Been there

I missed that part - Sorry.

cliffhucker · 04-08-2007, 10:23 PM

no worries,

I appreciate your replies and suggestions.

I am not desperate enough to use boot discs .

I tried partition logic but got stuck at the post prompt.And the "manual" at the site was very lacking.

I would really like to find that hidden partition and delete from windows.

I also tried the Ultimate boot disk and it only recognized the drive as 40 GB?

Anyways thanks again and sorry for being harsh.

Cheers

**Deleted090308** · 04-08-2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffhucker

no worries,

I appreciate your replies and suggestions.

I am not desperate enough to use boot discs .

I tried partition logic but got stuck at the post prompt.And the "manual" at the site was very lacking.

I would really like to find that hidden partition and delete from windows.

I also tried the Ultimate boot disk and it only recognized the drive as 40 GB?

Anyways thanks again and sorry for being harsh.

Cheers

I've done some more "research" and can't find a good solution that will work in Windows. Try Super Fdisk to erase the partitions and the MBR (MBR on the external HD, of course).

cliffhucker · 04-09-2007, 05:52 AM

eneles,

Yeah I searched around and found nothing that could remove linux from windows.

I will give Super Fdisk a try later.

Thanks again for the help!

Cheers

04-08-2007, 07:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
cliffhucker Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 184 OS: XP Pro-SP2	Making old HDD external storage Hi, I have an old hdd out of a friends old pc. I installed it in an external hdd enclosure. It is a 60GB drive. I tried to reformat it to clear everything off it and it only formatted 9.71 GB It says (right clicking "properties") that there is 53 MB used. How can I format the whole drive to NTFS? When I right click the drive in m"My Computer" and select "format" the only choice is for 9.76GB. Could this have something to do with LINUX? I think he was dual booting with windows??? Thanks for any help. Cheers Last edited by cliffhucker; 04-08-2007 at 07:20 PM.

04-08-2007, 07:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,099 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Making old HDD external storage Is the drive partitioned? If so you will need to go into Disk Management and remove the partitions. __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

04-08-2007, 07:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
cliffhucker Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 184 OS: XP Pro-SP2	Re: Making old HDD external storage Yep there were partitions and I deleted them. But now the drive does not show up in "my computer"// Any ideas? Thanks

04-08-2007, 08:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
cliffhucker Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 184 OS: XP Pro-SP2	Re: Making old HDD external storage Yep there were partitions and I deleted them. Ok, now there is just one partition but it is only 38.27GB according to diskmgmt.msc. However under properties in "my computer" it says: Free space 38.2 GB Used space 65.6 And the used space is just a sliver in the pie chart. Is this linux hiding it or something??? Is there a command prompt that would get it? Thanks

04-08-2007, 08:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
src2206 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 2,057 OS: WinXP Pro SP2, Edubuntu 7.10 My System	Re: Making old HDD external storage Hello there Instead of using windows disk management, use Gparted Live CD. Here is one guide of using Gparted for you: http://sroyc.blogspot.com/2006/12/gp...credit-of.html __________________ Registered Linux user #426065

04-08-2007, 08:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
cliffhucker Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 184 OS: XP Pro-SP2	Re: Making old HDD external storage thanks i will look into it now

04-08-2007, 08:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
cliffhucker Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 184 OS: XP Pro-SP2	Re: Making old HDD external storage isnt that for if you want linux? Gparted I want nothing to do with linux

04-08-2007, 09:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Making old HDD external storage Hi, src2206 has posted a good link (but, I think the guide is written for Linux envionment). You could try Partition Logic. It's a free program that will let you get rid of any Linux partitions - but the program is not capable of NTSF formatting, you have to do that in Disk management. Perhaps the easiest solution is the one suggested by JohnthePilot - enter Disk Management in Windows. You do that by right-clicking My computer > manage > Disk management. In disk management you choose the partitions to delete (all?). Then you right-click the drive (in Disk management) and choose "New partition" and follow the wizard. Nicholas Last edited by Deleted090308; 04-08-2007 at 09:07 PM.

04-08-2007, 09:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Making old HDD external storage I think you should try Windows "Disk management" first.

04-08-2007, 10:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
cliffhucker Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 184 OS: XP Pro-SP2	Re: Making old HDD external storage no worries, I appreciate your replies and suggestions. I am not desperate enough to use boot discs . I tried partition logic but got stuck at the post prompt.And the "manual" at the site was very lacking. I would really like to find that hidden partition and delete from windows. I also tried the Ultimate boot disk and it only recognized the drive as 40 GB? Anyways thanks again and sorry for being harsh. Cheers Last edited by cliffhucker; 04-08-2007 at 10:25 PM.

04-09-2007, 05:52 AM	#15 (permalink)
cliffhucker Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 184 OS: XP Pro-SP2	Re: Making old HDD external storage eneles, Yeah I searched around and found nothing that could remove linux from windows. I will give Super Fdisk a try later. Thanks again for the help! Cheers