Formatting a hard disk - the process of creating a file system on its section, accompanied by the removal of data and the preparation of the new FS structure. Functionality for formatting hard drives and solid-state drives is contained in almost all modern OS, but not always the standard mechanism is optimal and applicable. On how to format a hard drive in several ways, this material will tell more.

Format HDD by regular means is very simple. To do this, you need to select the desired partition in the conductor, click the right mouse button and select "Format" in the pop-up menu.

In the menu that opens, select formatting options. It is recommended to use NTFS as a file system, and the cluster size is left standard. Installation of a tick opposite "Quick Formatting" significantly accelerates the process, but only the FS table is re-created. The data themselves physically remain on the disk, although they become inaccessible. If you do not install a tick - there will be a physical erase of all data (filling out of each memory cell by zeros), but the process will delay for a long time. The hard disk, the container of several terabytes, will be formatted by hours. But this formatting allows you to permanently destroy the data, for example, when transferring the drive to a new owner.

An alternative way to format HDD by regular means - through the "Control Panel". To do this, you need to find the "Administration" menu, select "Computer Management" in it and find "Drink Management. In the menu that opens, all drives are displayed in the form of structure. Plus the method is that it is so possible to format discs on which there is no partition and therefore they are not displayed in the "Explorer".

How to format the hard disk via the command line

For disk formatting via the command line, there is a Format service command. To use it, you need to run the command line on behalf of the administrator and enter the format command. It should have the following form:

format [Disc Letter]: - Formatting will occur without any questions, in the same FS, which is on the disk, slow way (with full erasing).

format [Disc Letter]: / Q -the "/ Q" flag starts quick formatting, without physical cleaning its contents. The flag can be planed in combination with any other keys.

format [Disc Letter]: FS: [File System]- Formatting the selected partition to one of the supported file systems: NTFS, FAT, FAT32.

format [Disc Letter]: FS: [File System] / Q - The same, but with rapid formatting.

How to format the hard disk before installing windows

To format a hard disk before installing Windows, you must select a complete setting, wait for the section Selection menu to set, click on the desired disk and press the "Format" key at the bottom. The system will independently determine the optimal formatting method, the type of FS and the cluster size. The whole process takes less than a minute.

Before formatting a hard drive, Windows installation may need to create additional system partitions to load the OS. In the screenshot, it is clear that such a section takes 100 MB. It stores part of the system loader.

The lack of formatting thus lies in the fact that it is impossible to manually work with the parameters. It is not necessary to ordinary users, but sometimes it is necessary that instead of the standard NTFS system there is the same FAT32. For example, such a need arises on the Intel processors and two installed OS (Windows + Android), as a ten-wing Chuwi Hi10. To see the Windows section from under Android, it must be formatted in a compatible FS. Working with NTFS without special plug-ins and third-party programs "Green Robot" can not.

The correct answer to this question is "in no way". Computer BIOS is a bit for other purposes and functionality for working with HDD has no. Usually, in the people, "formatting from the BIOS is called formatting through the command line in the text operating system (for example, MS-DOS). Plus, such a solution is that it is possible to work even with a system partition that is not used.

For the hard disk format through the DOS boot disk, you need to create an image of such an OS, write it on the USB flash drive and copy the utility to formatting there. Instead of DOS, you can also use a special program to work with HDD, for example, Gparted. This option is preferable, as more functional.

To format the HDD from the BIOS using the boot flash drive, you need to download. This is an automatic installer that downloads and records a fresh version of Gparted on the USB flash drive.

After creating a flash drive, you need to restart the PC, go to the BIOS (usually by pressing Del or F2) and find the boot menu. It should select an item containing the words "Boot Device Priority" or close to them in meaning. Among them, first place should be put in your flash drive. Then you need to press F10, agree to save the settings and wait for download from the flash drive.

In the Used Gparted menu, you need to select a language, select the disk and find the item responsible for formatting. You can select a file system, cluster size, formatting type and other options.

Instruction

Turn on the computer and hold the Delete key. After opening the BIOS menu, select Use Default Settings and press Enter. Now select Save & Exit. This is necessary to save changes and exit the BIOS menu.

Format the hard disk can be in several ways. If you have the ability to connect the hard drive to another computer, then perform this action. Turn on this PC and wait for the operating system boot. Open the "My Computer" menu, while pressing the Win and E keys at the same time. Right-click on the Winchester section, which must be formatted.

Select "Format" and click the Start button. Repeat this procedure with all other partitions of your hard disk. If you have no ability to connect the hard drive to another computer, then install the PARTITION Manager program. It will be required to format the system partition of the hard disk, because This procedure cannot be performed by Windows.

Restart the computer and run Partition Manager. Open the "Wizards" menu and select "Format Section". Click the Next button in the menu that opens. Select the hard disk section to be cleaned. Press "Next". Specify the type of file system of the future partition. Assign him a letter and label if required. Press the "Next" and "Finish" buttons.

Open the "Change" tab located above the toolbar. Select "Apply Changes". After a while, a window appears that contains the offer to restart the computer and continue the operation in DOS mode. Click the Restart Now button. After a while, the hard disk of the computer will be completely formatted.

Despite the fact that experts do not recommend engage in independent laptop repair, sometimes such a need arises. The action of viruses or damage to the file system is forced to do the unscheduled treatment of the computer. It often happens to format the laptop disk.

Instruction

When installing the operating system on a clean formatted disk, do not forget that the drivers for some devices, for example, video cards may have to be searched and installed separately because not all ready-made packages are suitable for laptops.

Many PC users often have to repair a computer or install software. Sometimes it is necessary to make a cardinal solution of problems - and then there is a need to format the hard disk to re-install the operating system and other programs.

You will need

• Installation disk with operating system.

Instruction

You will need an installation disk with the operating system. Insert the disk in. Restart the computer. Install the BIOS download from CD-ROM "A. After Windows downloads its files into operational, you will appear before you dialog box with the" Installing Windows ". Where you will be asked to choose one of the items.

Select "To restore Windows using the Recovery Console, click." You will open the recovery console. If only one operating system is installed on your PC, and it is sampled with:, then you will boot in front of you: "1: C: \\ WindowsWo What copy to Windows Do you need to log in?" Enter the number "1". Press the Enter key.

It must be remembered that during the formatting process data disappear. And before this operation is recommended to save the files you need on other media information.

After formatting, you can install the operating system.

Video on the topic

When you want to format a hard disk from the already installed operating system, most users in such cases are in a hurry to use specialized programs. But far from everyone knows that it is not at all necessary to install an additional software.

Instruction

Video on the topic

Sources:

• How to format a hard drive in Windows and when it is installed

Formatting hard disk From time to time it is necessary if you decide to update your computer, clean it from viruses, reinstall the operating system and put the data in order. Format the hard disk is easy - in fact, formatting is to create a new file system prepared for installing the operating system from scratch, and record new data. You can also reformat the disk again by removing damaged sectors and unnecessary data.

Instruction

To reformat the hard disk on Windows, prepare the boot disk from which you can install the operating system, and then copy all the files and folders to a separate hard drive that you would save for further work.

Select the formatting option with the creation of the NTFS file system. Wait until the format is completed, after which the Windows installation process will begin. For some time you have to wait until it is completed.

On Mac OS operating systems disk Also should not cause you difficulty. For formatting any partition hard disk Open the Disk Utility program built into the system. You will see a list of all sections, and among them, select the one you want to reformat.

Then click the Erase tab. Select the type of file system to section after formatting (for example, Mac OS X Journal), and finally delete the data by completing the section formatting.

Video on the topic

Computers today are so widespread that almost everything works with them. But in most cases, users very poorly imagine how their computer acts and what to do in freelance situations. Meanwhile, it is often necessary to make some actions that go beyond everyday work. For example, reformat local disks For the sake of cleaning disk space or eliminate errors and viruses.

Instruction

Local or logic discs call partitions on the hard drive (physical hard disk). Always on any one logical disk is (contains a valid operating system), and other customers intended for storing data and programs. Local can also be called an external hard disk, which is physically located outside and with it cable. The outer disk is perceived in the same way as all other logical partitions.

Format a local disc can be formatted in several ways: through, special utilities, through Windows software capabilities. For not an experienced user, the easiest and most affordable way is to use the formatting tools of the Windows itself.

Before proceeding with formatting, make sure that the selected local disc is not systemic. Otherwise, after the completion of the procedure, you will lose your opportunity to work with a computer to the operating system. Then browse the list of directories on the disk, and copy the necessary information to another media.

Then go under the admin rights to the operating system administration section: Start menu - Control Panel - Performance and Maintenance - Administration. In this section, select "Computer Management". You will see a window with a list of various control functions.

In this window, select "Disk Management". In the tab that opens, review the list of all available local and select the necessary one. Hover over it the cursor and right-click. In the resulting context menu, select the "Format" string. Confirm the command by clicking the "Okay" button, and wait for the operation. Your local disk is formatted.

Video on the topic

Sources:

• How to format the hard drive - local and external

Tip 7: How to format a hard drive in Windows Vista

Vista operating system, though he did not become popularly beloved, unlike its predecessor Windows XP, but nevertheless gained the range of its admirers. Although after switching from Windows XP, the interface of this operating system may seem a bit unusual. But most of the Vista operations are performed almost identical to more injury versions, for example, formatting operation.

Sometimes the user needs to format the disk section on which the system is installed. In the overwhelming majority he carries a letter C.. This need may be associated with both the desire to install a new OS and the need to correct the errors encountered in this volume. Let's figure out how to format disk C. On a computer running Windows 7.

Immediately need to say that format the system partition by running a PC from the operating system located, actually, on the formatted volume will not work. In order to perform the specified procedure, you need to boot one of the following methods:

• Through a different operating system (if there are several OS on the PC);
• Using LiveCD or LiveUSB;
• Using the installation media (flash drive or disk);
• By connecting the formatted disc to another computer.

It should be remembered that after executing the formatting procedure, all information in the section will be erased, including the elements of the operating system and user files. Therefore, just in case of pre-partition, so that if necessary, then you can restore the data.

Method 1: "Explorer"

Option formatting section C. through "Explorer" Suitable in all cases described above, except for downloading through the installation disk or flash drive. Also, of course, it will not be possible to perform the specified procedure if you currently work from under the system, which is physically on the formatted section.

Method 2: "Command Line"

There is also a method for formatting a disc C. With the introduction of the team in "Command Line". This option is suitable for all four situations that have been described above. Only launch procedure "Command Line" It will differ depending on the option that was selected to log in.

1. If you downloaded a computer from the OS, connected the formatted HDD to another PC or use LiveCD / USB, then you need to run "Command Line" Standard method from the person of the administrator. For this click "Start" and go to the section "All programs".



2. Next open the folder "Standard".



3. Find element "Command line" and right-click on it ( PKM.). From the opened action options, select an activation option with administrative powers.



4. In a displayed window "Command Line" VBE command:

   

   To this command, you can also add the following attributes:

   • / Q. - activates quick formatting;
   • fS: [File_System] - Manages formatting for the specified file system (FAT32, NTFS, FAT).

   For example:

   format C: FS: FAT32 / Q

   

   After entering the command, press ENTER.

   Attention! If you have connected the hard disk to another computer, then it is likely that the names of the sections will change in it. So before entering the command, go to "Conductor" And look at the current name of that volume you want to format. When entering the command instead of a symbol "C" Use exactly the letter that refers to the desired object.

5. After that, the formatting procedure will be performed.

If you use the installation disk or USB flash drive 7, then the procedure will be somewhat different.

Method 3: "Disk Management"

Format the section C. You can with the standard Windows tool WINDOVS "Disk management". Just need to consider that this option is not available if you use a boot disk or flash drive to perform the procedure.

1. Click "Start" And come in "Control Panel".



2. Move on the inscription "System and safety".



3. Click on item "Administration".



4. Choose from the open list "Computer Management".



5. On the left side of the shell opened, click on the point "Disk management".



6. The interface of the disk management tool. Laying the desired section and click on it. PKM.. From the opened options, select "Format…".



7. It will open exactly the same window that was described in Method 1.. It needs to produce similar actions and click Ok.



8. After that, the selected partition will be formatted according to the previously entered parameters.

Method 4: Formatting when installing

Above, we talked about ways that work in almost any situation, but not always applicable when running the system from the installation media (disk or flash drive). Now we will talk about the method that, on the contrary, you can only apply the PC from the specified media. In particular, this option is suitable when installing a new operating system.

1. Run the computer from the installation media. In the window that opens, select Language, time format and keyboard layout, and then click "Further".



2. The installation window will open, where you need to click on the big button "Install".



3. The section will appear with the license agreement. Here you should install a tick opposite the item "I accept the conditions ..." and press "Further".



4. The installation type selection window opens. Click by option "Full installation ...".



5. The disk selection window will then appear. Select the system partition to format, and click on the inscription "Disc Setup".



6. The shell opens, where among the list of various options for manipulations you need to choose "Format".



7. In the dialog box that opens, a warning will be displayed that when the operation continues, all data that is located in the section will be erased. Confirm your actions by clicking Ok.



8. Formatting procedure will start. After its end, you can continue the installation of the OS or cancel it depending on your needs. But the goal will be achieved - the disk is formatted.

There are several formatting options for system partition. C. Depending on which tools to start the computer you have at hand. But to format the volume on which the active system is from under the same OS will not work, whatever methods you use.

As various statistics show, not all users know how to produce the specified action. The greatest problems arise if you need to format the C drive in Windows 7 or 8, i.e. System hard disk.

In this instruction, we are talking about how to produce this, in fact a simple action - format the disk with (or, or rather, the disk to which Windows is installed), and any other hard disk. Well, I'll start with the simplest.

Formatting not a system hard disk or its partition in Windows

In order to format the disk or its logical partition in Windows 7 or Windows 8 (convention, disk D), it is enough to open the conductor (or "my computer"), right-click on the disk and select the "Format" item.

After that, simply specify, if you want a volume label, the file system (although it is better to leave NTFS) and the formatting method (it makes sense to leave "quick formatting"). Click "Start" and wait for the disk completely formatted. Sometimes, if the hard drive is large enough, it may take a long time and you can even decide that the computer is freezing. With a probability of 95% it is not, just wait.

Another way to format a hard disk that is not systemic - to do this using the format command on the command prompt running on the administrator name. In general, a command that produces quick disk formatting in NTFS will look like this:

Format / FS: NTFS D: / Q

Where D: is the letter of the formatted disk.

How to format disk C in Windows 7 and Windows 8

In general, this manual is also suitable for previous versions of Windows. So, if you try to format the system hard drive in Windows 7 or 8, then you will see a message that:

• You can not format this volume. It contains the Windows operating system used now. Formatting this volume can lead to the fact that the computer will stop working. (Windows 8 and 8.1)
• This disk is used. The disk is used by another program or process. Format it? And after clicking "Yes" - the message "Windows cannot format this disk. Complete all other programs using this disc, make sure that no window displays its contents, and then try again.

What is happening easily explained - Windows cannot format the disk on which he himself is. Moreover, even if the operating system is installed on a D disc or any other, still on the first section (i.e., the files will be necessary to load the operating system, since when you turn on the computer, the BIOS will first start loading From there.

Some notes

Thus, formatting the C disk You should remember that this action implies the subsequent installation of Windows (or other OS) or if Windows is installed on another partition, the OS boot configuration after formatting, which is not the most trivial task and if you are not too An experienced user (and apparently, it's so, since you are here), I would not recommend to take it.

Formatting

If you are sure that you are doing, then continue. In order to format the disk with or system partition, you will need to boot from any other media:

• Boot flash drive Windows or Linux, boot disk.
• Any other bootable media - LiveCD, Hiren's Boot CD, Bart PE and others.

There are also special solutions such as Acronis Disk Director, Paragon Partition Magic or Manager and others. But we will not consider them: first, these products are paid, secondly, for the purposes of simple formatting they are superfluous.

Formatting using the boot flash drive or Windows 7 and 8 disk

In order to format the system disc in this way, boot from the corresponding installation media and at the installation type selection stage, select "Full Installation". The next thing you see will be the selection of the section for installation.

Another way is to press SHIFT + F10 at any time, the command line opens. From which you can also formatting (how to do it, it was written above). Here it is necessary to consider that in the installation of the drive letter C can be different, in order to find out, to begin with, use the command:

WMIC Logicaldisk Get DeviceID, Volumename, Description

A, to clarify, did not confuse something - the DIR D command :, where d: - the letter of the disk. (On this command, you will see the contents of the folder on the disk).

After that, it is already possible to apply Format to the desired section.

How to format disk using LiveCD

Formatting a hard disk using a different kind of LiveCD is not much different from formatting simply in Windows. Since when downloading from LiveCD, all really necessary data is located in the computer's RAM, you can use various Bartpe options to format the system hard drive simply through the conductor. And, as well as in the already described options, use the Format command on the command line.

There are other formatting nuances, but I will describe them in one of the following articles. And in order for the novice user to know how to format the disk from this article, I think it will be enough. If anything - ask questions in the comments.

As a rule, the Winches space is divided into several local disks. So it is necessary that the local disk on which the system is installed has the name C. This disk system sets limited rights, to change which only the PC administrator can be changed. Experienced users of the OS have long ago stated that for the correct work at the computer, it is necessary every six months / year to re-install the main operating system on the same (if there is no more new). You can save user data via backup, simply by creating a copy of all data on the OneDrive cloud.

In order to correctly reinstall / install the system, you must first format the local disc C. That is, you must first release all the memory of this disk, and then put the system. If you put one more on the existing system to the same disk on top of the existing system, then you will receive a data conflict that will not allow you to use a personal computer. This does not concern that case when you install different OS on different local discs. If you do not have an installation disk, but there is an activation code (or normal activator), then you can create it yourself, after downloading the image of the operating system. Use Ultraiso and create a DVD installed from an ordinary disk.

1. Set the boot from the drive in the BIOS (where there is a disk with the OS image) and restart (the disk must be in the drive)
2. The disc is starting to read, the installation window appears before you. In it you need to choose "Installing OS" and then select those parameters that you need. If you reached the point when you need to select a section to install, select a local disk with, but before you warn you, you need to format it. Click the "Format" button and then boldly select the C drive to install the OS.
3. Next, the installation process passes, and in the end you fall on the empty desktop, and the disk with successfully formatted.

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