I.T. help.. New HD - How To Format?
 

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:???:

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

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.

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

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')

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

you'll be fine after.

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

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.

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

Or can I cancel and start again?