Windows Vista forum: How do you format the hard drive from Vista?

To format your hard drive, insert the installation DVD(Vista) and go through the options until you get to choose which partition to install Vista on and just click the button at the bottom that says "Format".
And just to tell all those people who are complaining about vista. Unless you want to have XP forever I suggest you switch to Vista and deal with the problems, because one day you will have to.
Theres a saying, "Don't run away from a problem, Deal with it"

Hi,

That is another issue. The computer has no DVD with vista os. Had to make 7 CDs.

jj

If you were paying attention, you would have noticed that the Gateway has Vista pre-installed. So there *are* no Installation CD to format with.

So how do you, without a vista installation CD, format a drive in Vista?

Next time, please read the post you are answering... it is fundamental.

First, you cannot format the local Windows partition while you are running Windows from it. Before it could complete it would destroy the tools used to destroy itself, leaving a corrupted mass of an operating system behind, and as such Microsoft has built in a preventative measure so that it never comes to that. If you wish to format your primary bootable partition you must do it from outside of Windows.

Second, if he wipes the hard drive, the installed operating system will be no longer. If he does not have a set of CDs/DVDs from which to reinstall Windows he has no way of reinstalling Windows. Basically game over until he orders a set of discs from Gateway, taking both time and money.

In short, I suggest you re-read the Microsoft article you linked to. That only applies if you are creating a new partition out of unallocated space or are formatting a secondary partition. (Microsoft explicitly states that under "
To format an existing partition (volume)" in the text you linked to.)

John

He said he just purchased a computer from gateway, which, by default, comes with a single hard drive divided into two partitions, one for the OS and one for the creation of recovery CDs/DVDs. He never said anything about installing new hard drives that he now needs to reformat, so the assumption is that he is speaking of the one hard drive he spoke of. And, since there is only one partition on the drive you would want to reformat, containing Vista, it is logical to believe that is what he is referring to.

You could be right. It could be he installed another hard drive, decided not to inform us of that action, and now wants information on how to format it. However, it did not sound that way to myself and others who responded, and the original poster has not responded so we may never know for sure. The question now becomes why, after two weeks, you wish to debate what the original poster meant instead of offering support to those with current problems.

John

Ok,
So in looking again at the original post. I see that it could be assumed that the guy was indeed looking to "reformat" his drive. I have to apologize.

Seems I was caught in my own context....

Hey Im having the same problem ,I installed a second hard drive from my old computer which was recognized by vista straight away,even though vista could find no drivers,a simple right click on the drive will give an option to format,However,Vista will not allow the format to commence as the drive is supposedly 'already in use' by another program etc.Im off to chuck the contents of this drive into the recycle bin and see what happens.Maybe this is the problem the original poster had in formatting his drive with vista.

I have a new dell and am running Vista. I cannot pick up wireless internet at work. It conects with the router.. it gets a cliet IP but it will not pick up a gateway IP ... I can pick up wireless evrywhere else.
is there someway of dealing with this other than going back to XP?
bty I can pick up the wireless with my other computer that is running XP

pbzie

Read about the Vista patch in our Network stick post at http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7589_102-0.html?forumID=62&threadID=264135&messageID=2584349

See item 7

What a sad answer below, when someone was asking for help on getting VISTA off of there computer - which is JUNK. But because of people who follow the principle written below, is why Microsoft (and others) put out the garbage like VISTA. They do not have to worry about pleasing customers, nor making it user friendly, becasue people like the person who wrote the STUPID comment below thinks we should just accept whatever garbage is out there. HOW SAD!!!. If we complain about it together, this piece of junk would be replaced by something better. Maybe the below was written by a Program Engineer at Microsoft. People who do not VISTA are dealing with it - by getting rid of it. Microsoft will get the message, like they did with Windows 'ME'.

'And just to tell all those people who are complaining about vista. Unless you want to have XP forever I suggest you switch to Vista and deal with the problems, because one day you will have to.
Theres a saying, "Don't run away from a problem, Deal with it" '.

...then have nothing to do with it, even with reformating. If you want to install XP, use the XP CD to reformat, and install XP. You will have to purchase a new copy or migrate from the old (if full retail.) Also remember the mother board drivers for XP - they also want to be installed too.

Hello please help me. I have just bought a new acer aspire M3610. Right after putting it on , I installed Norton Ghost 2003 and from then on my nightmare started.
Even with the Recovery CD from Acer Italy, I couldnt restore my Hard disk. They said that using the Norton Ghostaactually erased everyting in the hard disk. Now after restoring using the recovery CD, the screen always says:
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software schange might be tha cause. Then you insert your Windowws Vista and restart the computer 2 choose language setting and click 3- Click repairt your computer
If you donont have the disk contact the Admin or the manufarturer
F:|Boot\BCD
Status: 0X0000225
Info: an error occured wulie attmepting to read the boot config data


Please help me. The Acer people insist that I should format the HD but there is no way to enter into the system. It only allow me to go to the BIOS.
What shall I do? Many thanks in advance.

Hello many thnks for the dBan tip. Now after erasing the HD what should I do? Should I format the HD or can I finally use the Recovery CD from Acer to completely restore everything just like when I bought my Acer Aspire?
Many thanks.
Efren

Many thnks Bob but unfortunately I couldn't use dBan. My Acer Aspire M3610 is blocked. It doesnt boot on CD/DVD or any media. So with dBan in my hand I feel very frustrated. Than means I couldnt use anynmore my Acer. The hard disk is broken after installing Norton Ghost 2003 (It has Windows Vista preinstalled) as I have read from the answer on my post. So is there still a chance to use my computer.
I restored it with the restore CD form Acer Italy 3 times but after every restoration it goes back to the samne screen saying that "Windows failed to start bec of the hardware /software chage. While the INFO reads: an error hjas occured while attmepting to read the boot config data". Status: 0X0000225. F:\Boot\BCD.
More help please and thnks in advance.