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

[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.

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')

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]

Originally Posted by 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?

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

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.

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

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

you'll be fine after.

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.

Or can I cancel and start again?