Formatting a partition.

#1 Exxccessive

journeyman

Group: Members
Posts: 50
Joined: 26-April 05

Posted 10 May 2005 - 10:33 AM

please, show me or teach me how to format a partition.
Thanx in advance

#2 ScinteX

enthusiast

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Posts: 317
Joined: 23-August 04

Posted 10 May 2005 - 10:58 AM

If it's not the partition that your OS is installed on, simply open up a Command Prompt and type

format x:

Where X is the letter assigned to that partition.

Or, in My Computer, right click the partition (if it is shown in My Computer) and select "Format".

If you want to format the primary partition then download a boot disk from bootdisk.com (or use a bootable floppy that you might already have), boot into DOS and execute the format command above.

Obviously note that format=loose data (there are ways to get things back but it is easier if we don't go there).

If the partition is not shown in My Computer (for example if it is a format like EXT3 for *nix) then download a good partition manager such as Acronis or Partition Magic and convert the partition to NTFS or FAT32.

Have fun

S

#3 AndyFair

old hand

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Posts: 748
Joined: 21-May 01

Posted 10 May 2005 - 12:11 PM

Alternatively, if you're using XP or 2000, use the Windows Disk Mangler (Start/Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management->Storage->Disk Management)
Right click the relevant partition, select format.

Easier that bothering with command line or other applications!