Erase Hard DRive

fsinz · August 25th, 2003, 02:40 PM

I am runing windows 2000 and wish to erase (wipe clean) my hard drive. I downloaded a firewall program and it had a corrupt file. I have my system running but it just isn't right. I recently upgraded my motherboard but never got around to compleately cleaning the hard drive and installing the new drivers. My misteak. Anyway this corrupt file may be the computer god's way of telling me I need to reformat. I know win 2k will partition and load on it's own so if someone could help me with the commands to send my information to never never land so I can reload my OS on a clean hard drive I would sure appreciate it. Thanks....

IT IS A MAXTOR HARD DRIVE

crouse · August 25th, 2003, 02:50 PM

http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

this should help......

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DoctorReno · August 25th, 2003, 03:26 PM

What brand is your HD? Most likely the HD mfg has a free downloadable utility to zero fill format your drive... which is what you are wanting to do. Most mfgs utility will work on any and all brands of drives. Personally I like the Seagate Diskwizard utility.
Once you have your OS installed I like the free utility Eraser 5.3, http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser/, to completely overwrite files making them virtually unrecoverable rather than sending them to the Recycle bin and deleting them, which does not delete them at all.

vass0922 · August 25th, 2003, 03:43 PM

when you install Win2k you have the option to repartition. After its done re-partitioning it will automatically format the drive to whatever filesystem you desire between NTFS and FAT

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There's really no 'commands' per say, as there is no command prompt
The install process will give you the necessary options of deleting the current partitions, then create new ones and then after that part is done it will ask you what file system to make the system partition. Once you've completed the install and are in Win2k you can use disk management to format any remaining partitions

moep · August 28th, 2003, 11:40 AM

If you boot the PC using a boot disk, you can type fdisk @ the DOS prompt. This will enable you to partition your drive(s). When this is done, restart your PC. Once back @ the DOS prompt, type format c: (C being the name of the partition). This will completely erase anything on the hard drive and partition it.

It's worked for me in the past!

fsinz · August 28th, 2003, 08:40 PM

Thanks for all your help... I have my hard drive re formatted and all systems are go.