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How to format a hard drive with operating system ?

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  • Mar 29th, 2022 5:58 pm
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Mar 27th, 2022 10:36 pm
rdx [OP]
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Jun 7, 2005
9430 posts
915 upvotes

Mar 27th, 2022 10:36 pm

How to format a hard drive with operating system ?

I have an old 500 GB hard drive that I would like to format it. I think it has Windows 7 on it (forgot exactly) as it was taken off from one of my old PC. I put it on an external drive enclosure and thought I can just plug it on the USB drive of PC to format it. However, the PC does not detect it as an external drive. I guess it is because of the operating system on it.

Could someone please advise what is the easiest way to format it ? I just want to format it and use it with the enclosure as an external storage. There is no data on the drive that I need to save/backup.

Thanks in advance for any help.
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Mar 27th, 2022 10:42 pm
aaron158
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Nov 25, 2004
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London

Mar 27th, 2022 10:42 pm

weather there is an os on it or not windows should see it if the drive works. if your using windows 10/11 try right clicking the start menu and go to disk management if the drive is working it should be there u can format it from there if it shows up in there.
+1
Mar 28th, 2022 8:04 am
rdx [OP]
Deal Fanatic
Jun 7, 2005
9430 posts
915 upvotes

Mar 28th, 2022 8:04 am

Gee wrote: ↑ Do you have the proper power adapter for the external enclosure?
Original power cable with the enclosure
Mar 28th, 2022 8:36 am
rdx [OP]
Deal Fanatic
Jun 7, 2005
9430 posts
915 upvotes

Mar 28th, 2022 8:36 am

aaron158 wrote: ↑ weather there is an os on it or not windows should see it if the drive works. if your using windows 10/11 try right clicking the start menu and go to disk management if the drive is working it should be there u can format it from there if it shows up in there.
Thanks. This is what I see under Dish Management:

C: with NTFS as the File System with 1862.48 GB capacity <--- This is the hard drive of the PC I am using
Disk 0 Partition 3 with 450MB capacity <-- I think this is from the 500 GB external hard drive that I want to format
Disk 1 Partition 1 with 465.75 GB capacity <-- I think this is from the 500 GB external hard drive that I want to format
System Reserved with NTFS as the File System with 100 MB capacity

Update: I just assigned F: to "Disk 1 Partition 1" and able to format it. Thanks
+1
Mar 28th, 2022 2:51 pm
lead
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Nov 21, 2002
11179 posts
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Winnipeg

Mar 28th, 2022 2:51 pm

rdx wrote: ↑ Thanks. This is what I see under Disk Management:

C: with NTFS as the File System with 1862.48 GB capacity <--- This is the hard drive of the PC I am using
Disk 0 Partition 3 with 450MB capacity <-- I think this is from the 500 GB external hard drive that I want to format
Disk 1 Partition 1 with 465.75 GB capacity <-- I think this is from the 500 GB external hard drive that I want to format
System Reserved with NTFS as the File System with 100 MB capacity

Update: I just assigned F: to "Disk 1 Partition 1" and able to format it. Thanks
let me fix that
Mar 29th, 2022 5:58 pm
Canuck_TO
Sr. Member
Dec 11, 2008
977 posts
574 upvotes
Toronto

Mar 29th, 2022 5:58 pm

So, you're familiar with Disk Management. That makes it easier.

Open Disk Management and right click on the partitions/volumes and Delete Volume all of the partitions on the drive.
Right click on the drive (which should now be all blank/empty space) and select New Simple Volume.
Follow through the Wizard and you can set the size, name, file type and finally format the new drive.

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