Formatting a drive with Windows installed?

crowichi · 08-24-2007, 12:20 AM

I recently got a new HD and installed Windows XP on it, so that the old drive with a previous windows install can be used for my music. However, there is no option to delete partition or format the old drive in disc manager, most likely due to there being a Windows installation on it.

Is there any other way I can format the drive?

**Deleted090308** · 08-24-2007, 02:04 AM

Hi,
Try Partition Logic.

crowichi · 08-24-2007, 03:03 AM

Argh what a nightmare. I tried partition magic to format the drive and it gives me some "unknown error" and cancles the operation. The drive now has no files in it and is reading as having no capacity.

I tried Partition Logic, but the drive doesn't show up in the list. I managed to start formatting it through windows disc manager, it completed 100% then right at the end it said "could not format disc".

**Deleted090308** · 08-24-2007, 03:15 AM

Try dban (Darik's Boot and Nuke) to wipe the drive.

Before you use dban (in DOS) - disconnect the drive you don't want to wipe to avoid mistakes.

08-24-2007, 12:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
crowichi Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Formatting a drive with Windows installed? I recently got a new HD and installed Windows XP on it, so that the old drive with a previous windows install can be used for my music. However, there is no option to delete partition or format the old drive in disc manager, most likely due to there being a Windows installation on it. Is there any other way I can format the drive?

08-24-2007, 02:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Formatting a drive with Windows installed? Hi, Try Partition Logic.

08-24-2007, 03:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
crowichi Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: Formatting a drive with Windows installed? Argh what a nightmare. I tried partition magic to format the drive and it gives me some "unknown error" and cancles the operation. The drive now has no files in it and is reading as having no capacity. I tried Partition Logic, but the drive doesn't show up in the list. I managed to start formatting it through windows disc manager, it completed 100% then right at the end it said "could not format disc".

08-24-2007, 03:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Formatting a drive with Windows installed? Try dban (Darik's Boot and Nuke) to wipe the drive. Before you use dban (in DOS) - disconnect the drive you don't want to wipe to avoid mistakes.