# Formatting
**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809
**Category:** random
**Created:** [August 31, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809 "2003-08-31T04:27:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@redViper](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/redViper)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/1 "2003-08-31T04:27:48Z")
Is there anyone that can give me Step-By-Step formatting instructions? I’ve looked on google, but It’s all crud, I don’t understand halve of it.
Thank you. 🙂
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/2 "2003-08-31T04:37:51Z")
It depends on what type of computer you have and what kinda cd came with it.
If you have a windows cd, insert that into the cd-drive and there should be an option to do a quick format (i think, i’ve never actually used this method) or full format. I believe the difference is the full deletes even the OS while the quick keeps the OS on there, but it deletes everything else.
if you have a recovery cd (this is what i have) just put it in and select to format. This’ll delete everything (even OS) and then re-install it. This takes a fairly long time.
Just in case you didn’t know, this deletes EVERYTHING. So anything you want to save, like links, flash movies, settings, drivers, I’d put it on a cd or on your site.
PS, if you have a mac, only way to do this is to put it on a super-conducting magnent :P. Just kidding with dipi.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/3 "2003-08-31T04:43:29Z")
If you are running XP then you can’t reformat. It will tell you it reformatted, and it will look like it reformatted, but it won’t be. It just hides everything from you. Ⓜ
Except I’m like the only person with this problem so you should be fine. =)
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/4 "2003-08-31T04:43:50Z")
I CAN I CAN!!!
but first i need to know what version of Windows you’re going to put on 🙂
-teet
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/5 "2003-08-31T04:49:10Z")
> \*Originally posted by _twitch_ \*
> \*\*If you are running XP then you can’t reformat. It will tell you it reformatted, and it will look like it reformatted, but it won’t be. It just hides everything from you. Ⓜ
> Except I’m like the only person with this problem so you should be fine. =) \*\*
Actually, no. I tried to reformat my friends comp (with xp) and it didn’t work
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/6 "2003-08-31T04:50:24Z")
woohoo! 2 of us.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/7 "2003-08-31T04:54:48Z")
ok there are several ways to do a format…
note: this is only for PC not for MAC :-\
1. Doing format with fdisk
Propably the savest method or the “thereisnootherway”
method. You will eventually need a boot disk - or boot from a
Windows 98 SE CD.
execute fdisk… hit y to set the 2gb limit to OFF. delete your
primary partition (or if a extended partition exists, delete this
one first!). You will be prompted to restart your computer! Do
so. Next boot from CD or from your bootdisk and execute
format (eG. a:\format c:/u) the “/u” stands for “unrecoverable”
since all data of your harddisk is gone as you deleted your
partition this option can be left out! Now format your HDD and
wait a few minutes (or a hour). depends on what size your
HDD is! After formating restart your computer and install your
OS :thumb:
2. Doing format while Windows 2000 / XP setup
With this method you cant do anything wrong. Follow
instructions on the setupscreen and choose either quickformat
or lowlevel format (i suggest u do a lowlevel format if your HDD
is new or had some damaged sectors or bs like that). But
Quickformat works good and is very fast! 👁 👁
3. Doing format using HDDKiller or bs like that!
DONT USE TOOLS LIKE THAT! At work we had to use a program
named “Spur 0 Killer” which had fun in killing 2 120GB HDDs so
DONT - DONT - DONT use them! trust in fdisk if nothing works!
I hope this helped a bit!
PM me if u need help :thumb:
cheers
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/8 "2003-08-31T05:23:03Z")
> \*Originally posted by _twitch_ \*
> \*\*If you are running XP then you can’t reformat. It will tell you it reformatted, and it will look like it reformatted, but it won’t be. It just hides everything from you. Ⓜ
> Except I’m like the only person with this problem so you should be fine. =) \*\*
no i have done it, to make it delete everything it is called setting your hard drive to zero’s it takes a relay long time and i cant remember how i just have a 40gig an it took me 5 hours
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/9 "2003-08-31T05:24:41Z")
I have a 40 gig too, and every time after I reformat I stiill have like 20 gigs taken up. It makes me sad. _sniff_
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/10 "2003-08-31T05:25:24Z")
> \*Originally posted by Flash fool \*
> \*\*no i have done it, to make it delete everything it is called setting your hard drive to zero’s it takes a relay long time and i cant remember how i just have a 40gig an it took me 5 hours \*\*
u can set your hdd to zero when u delete the partition with fdisk!
then quickformat and its done… :p:
> \*Originally posted by _twitch_ \*
> \*\*I have a 40 gig too, and every time after I reformat I stiill have like 20 gigs taken up. It makes me sad. _sniff_ \*\*
do you have a second partiotion on your harddisk that is not formated?
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 5:27am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/11 "2003-08-31T05:27:43Z")
I don’t think so. I don’t really get the partition thing but I think I have the normal one and then one that’s like a couple megabytes.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/12 "2003-08-31T05:33:35Z")
> \*Originally posted by _twitch_ \*
> \*\*I don’t think so. I don’t really get the partition thing but I think I have the normal one and then one that’s like a couple megabytes. \*\*
rightclick workplace-\>administrate-\>mediaadministration or something like that!
this shows you the drives in your pc… then you will see the status of your harddisk (unformated space…) :thumb:
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 5:36am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/13 "2003-08-31T05:36:44Z")
Haha alright. I don’t understand this stuff at all, but I think I get the general idea.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/14 "2003-08-31T06:41:01Z")
> I don’t think so. I don’t really get the partition thing but I think I have the normal one and then one that’s like a couple megabytes.
the little partition is the boot sector
-teet
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/15 "2003-08-31T15:27:05Z")
reformatt in DOS! 🙂
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/16 "2003-08-31T17:04:42Z")
I don’t think DOS prompt is accessible other than from Windows which won’t let you format.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/17 "2003-08-31T17:18:09Z")
Boot off the windows cd and delete your current partition then reformat and reinstall windows. Just did it yesterday with xp home switching to pro
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/formatting/29809/18 "2003-08-31T17:45:42Z")
> \*Originally posted by Maxtr0sity \*
> \*\*I don’t think DOS prompt is accessible other than from Windows which won’t let you format. \*\*
> you boot from the win cd and go to the command prompt