How to Format the C Drive With Windows 7

Steps are:-

1. Back up and save your files. Formatting the C drive will erase all files, programs, and information saved on the C drive, so you may want to back up any files you want saved. 

2.Obtain your computer name if connected to a network. After your C drive has been formatted, you may be prompted for your computer name during the installation process in order to reconnect to the network. Go to your computer's "Start" menu, right-click on "Computer," then select "Properties" from the menu that appears. Your computer name will be shown below "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings."

3.Insert the Windows 7 installation disc. In some cases, you may have the Windows 7 installation program saved on a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive, which can also be inserted.

4.Turn off your computer. Your computer will have to reboot in order to read the Windows 7 installation disc. Open your "Start" menu, then click on "Shut Down."

5.Power on your computer. When your computer powers back on, it will read the installation disc and begin the formatting process.

6.Format your C drive. After the computer has recognized the installation disc, you will be prompted to press any key on your keyboard to continue. The installation wizard will then appear on your screen.

• Select your language from the "Install Windows" page, then click on "Next" to proceed.Read and review the Windows 7 license terms. In order to proceed to the next screen, you will be required to place a check mark in the box next to "I accept the license terms."Select "Custom" when prompted to indicated the type of installation you want to perform.Select "Drive options (advanced)" when asked where you want Windows installed. Choosing this option will allow you to select the C drive as the only drive you want to format.Click on your "C" disk drive when Windows asks which partition you want to "change," or install. Your computer will then begin formatting, or erasing, all the data currently existing on your C drive. Windows will notify you when the formatting procedure has finished.

   

How to Format the C Drive on a Windows XP SP2

Steps are:-

1.Insert the Windows XP disk, and Restart your computer.

2.A screen will come up during the boot and tell you to press any key to boot from CD, (if not you will need to change the start up sequence in the BIOS). Press any key you like.

3.Next, you are asked which file system to use, the FAT Filesystem or NTFS Filesystem. NTFS Filesystem is the newer and faster one, so use that. FAT would also limit you to small hard disk drives.

4.It might take a while. Once everything is loaded, there will be a few options on the screen. The one you want says 'To set up Windows XP, press enter.' So select it and press enter.

5.Follow the rest of the on screen instructions to finish formatting.

6.Alternatively, if you just want to format a secondary hard drive you can go to 'My Computer', right click on the drive and press format and follow the instructions accordingly.