Formatting a computer hard drive is always a last-resort effort to pursue only when all other methods of attempting to fix a problem have failed. A formatted hard drive will be completely wiped of all data, including the operating system. The Microsoft Windows operating system comes with a built-in feature that allows you to format a hard drive without having to use a boot disc or installation CD.
Step 1
Click "Start," then "Control Panel." Double-click on "Administrative Tools."
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Step 2
Double-click "Computer Management" and then click "Continue" when a box pops up. Wait for a new window to appear and then scroll down through the list of options on the left pane. Click on the "+" sign next to the "Storage" option and then click on "Disk Management."
Step 3
Find the hard drive you want to format in the list of drives in the center pane. Right-click on the drive and choose the "Format..." option from the new menu that will appear.
Step 4
Choose the "NTFS" option from the drop-down menu labeled as "File System." Leave the "Allocation Size" option at "Default" and then click on the "OK" button to begin the formatting process.
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