**Only post if you know what you're talking about**Ok, So how do you format a Maxtor 40gb hard drive with Windows XP?Any help would be appreciated.-Sam.Gen.

put the XP disk in your ROM then rebootWhen it boots (reboot your whole system) it will ask if you want to boot from the CD...push any key.Basically follow the steps. When you get to the format section just delete the partition you have listed the select that to be formated with NTFS...do not use the quick format mode.When it finishes it will start installing XP......put your key in and then download all your updates and drivers if needed. Basically you are done.It is very easy.BTW I took off work the next two days if you need any help let me know.

Is this a second hard drive used for storage only or are you installing windows on this drive.If a second hard drive do this. Click Start, Control Panel, Adminstrative Tools, Computer Management, on the left frame click Disk Management. You should see the logical drive for it, then right click, then click format. If the logical drive doesn't exist then probably no partition exist. See if the physical drive itself exist then create a logical drive using the partition utility in Disk Management.If the hard drive is being used to install Windows XP then set the cd-rom to boot first (setting is in the bios). Insert the Win XP cd and reboot. Run the win Xp setup and it will detect hard drive available and give you options for formatting and partitioning to get the drive ready for winxp installation.

ok, i've reformatted my hard drive 4 times in the last month, so I am an expert in it by now :)StateCop was right about reformatting your main drive, and you can do the same for your storage drive. I had a storage drive that I never used, and I just reformatted last night and instaled XP with service pack 2 and it worked fine

I think a fair question to ask yourself is, do you really need to reformat? I've run the same installation since I set up my new system almost a year ago.

 

Some people (my roommate, my dad...) swear by reformatting every few months to "clean things up". Personally, I think it's silly. A lot of times fixing a problem could be as simple as reinstalling a driver.

I'm one of those that likes to reformat. Some people thinks its a hassle, but its not if everything is organized well. Having a separate hard drive or partition helps to keep backups without concern of backing up before you format. One way to make it easier is slip streaming your install. You can create ISO images of your Win xp disk to include windows updates and also automate the installation customized to your needs. With slip streaming your install you can allow the install to automatically insert your cd-key and also allow setup to know the options you desire without user intervention.

 

Its fine if you don't like reformating. You can usually fix most problem without formating. My reason for formatting isn't usually because I have a problem but because there is lots of trash left behind on a PC. The registery is the big junk yard and if your not protected well, adware likes to attach itself there. When you uninstall software normally its trash is left behind in the registery. There is nothing more appealing than a fresh install. It is nearly impossible to get it to that state without reformatting.

Yeah I have a software that catches all the adware. Those things are worse than worm viruses. So hard to get rid of if not protected.To me formatting is like that tiny space between the refrigerator and the wall that you just can't get to. You don't clean it everyday as it would be headache pulling the refrigerator back from the wall, but a worthy job every 2 or 3 months.

I think a fair question to ask yourself is, do you really need to reformat? I've run the same installation since I set up my new system almost a year ago.

 

Some people (my roommate, my dad...) swear by reformatting every few months to "clean things up". Personally, I think it's silly. A lot of times fixing a problem could be as simple as reinstalling a driver.

I agree Carl, but I'm selling this computer. I would rather not have the person I'm selling it to be able to use all my game CD-Keys..

Reformat then.

Actually you should get a program that writes zero's on the drive so there is no info left on it for really prying eyes.

norton has a program that does that if you have norton

Actually you should get a program that writes zero's on the drive so there is no info left on it for really prying eyes.

Recommendations?

if go to maxtors web page go to down loads therei a utility there that will write all zeros on your HD, i think the pgram is called power max nad you want to run the low-level format test, NOT the quick one

if you have a windows 98 start up disk do this.........start up with the diskselecting no cd rom supportwhen u start up and u see the a:\type informat c: /u /severything will be gone.

**Only post if you know what you're talking about**

 

Ok, So how do you format a Maxtor 40gb hard drive with Windows XP?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

-Sam.Gen.

:wink: Windows XP