I.T. help.. New HD - How To Format?

[SV-net]

Ok I have just installed a new (slave) HD into my PC and now I need to format it so I can start saving images and music there. But I dont know how to do it. Ok the story so far:-

I have installed the driver and the jumpers are correct on the slave and its powered. Windows XP can see the drive but can do nothing with it. A workmate tells me `yeah, just format the new drive`.

Help:???:

[fizzwheel]

Right click my computer, choose manage.

Then open "disk managment", should show you a list of physical disks, you'll need to create a logical drive and give it a drive letter and then you'll be able to format it.

Its ages since I've done this in XP mind so I might not be spot on correct.

[Moffatt666]

Easier:
Go into 'My Computer'
Right click on the drive
Select 'Format'
Choose either FAT32 (old skool) or NTFS (XP standard)
Click Format/OK (or whatever button isn't 'cancel')

[SV-net]

Ok thanks, but as this will be a slave drive do I need to find the FAT or NTFS on the maste rand make them the same?

[fizzwheel]

Ok thanks, but as this will be a slave drive do I need to find the FAT or NTFS on the maste rand make them the same?

Doesnt matter if they are not the same, Just format it NTFS it'll be fine.

[mike_avfc]

format it as NTFS, never choose FAT or you have a 4gb limit on file sizes, makes copying dvd images to it impossible (typically just over 4gb), had this on a portable USB drive. easy enough to convert to NTFS using the format command from the command line.

[SV-net]

Ok I have assigned a drive letter.
About to format its asking should I quick format?

[mike_avfc]

yup - quick format it - only does the allocation table - and about a million times quicker.

you'll be fine after.

[SV-net]

Oh poop I just clicked go without ticking the quick box.
Gonna be a long night then I guess.

Thanks for all your posts I really appreciate your help.

[SV-net]

Or can I cancel and start again?

[mike_avfc]

can stop it but i wouldn't - just leave it till the morning - depending on the size of the drive it can take some time.

My main pc is on virtually 24/7, it won't do any harm, jus turn the monitor off.

[SV-net]

Cheers Mike I will leave it on, its 160GB.

That will please the Mrs as its her side of the bed and she hates the fan running in her earhole.

[K]

Oh goody - 'real' knowledgable people got here first...

... I would have just told you to hit it with a hammer to re-format it into a somewhat unique drinks coaster. :twisted:

[rictus01]

Oh goody - 'real' knowledgable people got here first...

... I would have just told you to hit it with a hammer to re-format it into a somewhat unique drinks coaster. :twisted:

nice to see your tool kit is multi-function, not only mechanical but tech application as well :D


Cheers Mark.

[Mr Toad]

I'd avoid using the 'quick' format - you don't want to discover a few months later that you've got some dodgy sectors.

[K]

nice to see your tool kit is multi-function, not only mechanical but tech application as well :D


Cheers Mark.

The hammer is the original multi-tool. :twisted:

[stewie]

Apologies for slight hijack, but if I bought an external hard drive for keeping images, music etc on it would I need to format that, I thought formatting was to wipe a disk completely clean ?

[Baph]

Apologies for slight hijack, but if I bought an external hard drive for keeping images, music etc on it would I need to format that, I thought formatting was to wipe a disk completely clean ?
That depends. :)

TBH though, I'd format it anyway. Most external drives come formatted as some computer have issues seeing unformated external drives.

Also, you can sometimes gain a little space over what the manufacturers setup by default.

[stewie]

That depends. :)

TBH though, I'd format it anyway. Most external drives come formatted as some computer have issues seeing unformated external drives.

Also, you can sometimes gain a little space over what the manufacturers setup by default.

Ta :D