How do you 'properly' format a Hard Drive?

Question

Okay, I have formated a HDD in the past, but I may be getting a job at a Computer Shop, and I want to make sure I am doing it 'correctly'

So what I did once long ago when my PC decided to pretty much die is this:

1) Copied all of my files that I wanted to keep to a DVD

2) Restart PC

3) Enter BIOS

4) Change boot to read CD drive before HDD

5) Shutdown PC

6) Turn on PC, insert Windows CD

7) Follow on-screen instructions

8) BAM, an hour later I was running

9) Install graphics drivers, sound card (if applicable), etc.

IS THAT ^^^^ The 'correct' way of doing it???

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

well done, but sometimes if a virus is the cause of the problem then you need to format all the partitions, otherwise you do nothing, the best way is to do using a boot dos disk, to save time you can use quick format:  a:\ format /q

Answer 2

I'd say so. But if by "Follow on-screen instructions" all you did was install windows overtop of your current partition, then no.

Delete partition > Format partition (NTFS) > Install Windows

Answer 3

Yeah that is the best way to reinstall Windows. If you do not want to change the boot order in BIOS. Hit F12 at the computer startup. You would get advance boot options and you can select CD drive from there...

Use http://www.windowsreinstall.com for screen shots ;-)

Answer 4

yes, using the windows cd is the correct way and ensures you did a clean format too.  

Answer 5

I would first delete the old partition, then format using NTFS but not the quick format, use the other one, thats the best way.  Now if you want every shred of data off in case a virus came on a customers computer, get DBAN, (dban.org)  problem is if you want the highest formatting/have no trace of the virus, the setting could format and would finish in about 9 hours.  

Answer 6

Yes, it's correct. And also make sure if you install Windows XP and above, format the HDD into NTFS. After all finished, do Windows Update and the necessary update and also don't forget to install security application like anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall

Answer 7

Correct way to reformat in NTFS and then install windows.

There are more drivers to install, like the chipset and network device...

There are other methods of simply reformatting or installing other operating systems, but for the purpose of reinstalling windows, you are correct.