need advices before buying an external hdd.. Other Vista Discussions Discuss need advices before buying an external hdd.. in the Windows Vista forums; Thanks for the info. Never knew that, all the NEW HDD's I have installed lately have had no NOTICE, and I guess it is OLD HABIT.. I install, FORMAT &...

[Snuffy]

Thanks for the info. Never knew that, all the NEW HDD's I have installed lately have had no NOTICE, and I guess it is OLD HABIT.. I install, FORMAT & FDisk.. I also still use the OLD DOS METHOD.

Thanks for the info...

[kiseki_o_o]

I also feel it's strange,
but after I read ppl's reviews on some other websites,
they mentioned about the hd come formatted as the pros of the product, lol..
so I think it's truly come formatted,
and I don't need to reformat it again, do I?


I just realized something even stranger,
after I looked through the sticker label on the box which describes the hdd descriptions,
there is a "Unformatted" writing on the descriptions, lol..
but after I tried it, seems like it's already formatted, with 465gb free of 465gb..

[Snuffy]

That would be entirely upto you...I will probably continue to FORMAT with DOS. and not windows. there are several reasons for using a FLOPPY Disk with DOS to format HDDs over using Windows to FORMAT.

This to me is sort of like which is better 270 or 30-06, and comparing a Ford to Chey .. sort of like FAST FORMAT of a DVD/CD -RW or Full Format of the same..
I DO NOT TRUST MANUFACTURES. (Read carefully REFURBISHED is not NEW, and REMOVED from is NOT NEW.) This has been proven with the new rash of FLASH USB Drives...last time I checked over 90% had some sort of "TRASH" in them. I FORMATTED every Stick I used, and every stick that went to a CUSTOMER.
I might be considered "old stick" but I have seen many NEW items which contained "DATA info" on the HDDs or USB FLASH stixs. DVD-RWs still in shrink wrap with "info" on them ... Better Safe than Sorry.
Have been in Computers since 1983...one way or another...

[kiseki_o_o]

I don't have a floppy disk tho,
mind telling me how to format my new hd using dos?
never done that again since a long time ago..

[Snuffy]

It is a bootable disk that has FDISK Format plus other commands on it.
when you boot to A:\ (floppy) you simply type FORMAT c:
then you get a question do you want to format for large y/n type y
then it formats full capacity of HDD. then you can FDISK to activate or set partations as you want.. Primary or secondary.. you can do this from almost any bootable drive ... DOS is included in the Vista DVD... you can reinstall from restore from the DVD under cmd (DOS).

Format A Partition Using The Vista DVD
You can format a partition using either the Disk Management Console or you can use the Windows Vista DVD to achieve the same result.

To use the Vista DVD proceed as follows:
Added by Snuffy...
A. make sure your bios is set to Boot from DVD -1st
B. open DVD and insert your copy.
C. restart the computer,
D. Proceed to set 3/

1/ Switch on your PC

2/ Quickly insert the Vista DVD into your CD/DVD-ROM drive

3/ A message will appear asking you to 'Press any key to boot from CD/DVD

4/ Press any key

5/ A black screen will now appear with a progress bar along the bottom. The legend say's 'Windows is loading files'

6/ After the files have been loaded the Language screen will appear.

7/ Select your language from the list and press Next

8/ At the Installation screen press the Install Now button

9/ The product key window will now open

10/ Type your product key number into the available box and then press OK, or NO to a Clean Install using an UPgrade Version.

11/ The End user Licence Agreement now appears. You 'must' accept this to continue

12/ The next screen to appear is 'Where do you want to install Windows'

13/ At the bottom of this window you will see an option marked Drive options (Advanced), click on this option

14/ In this Window select the partition you wish to Format from the list available and then click Format option link

15/ A message will now appear informing you that all data will be destroyed. Click OK to proceed

How to partition and format your hard disk by using the Windows XP Setup
program
Important If you follow these steps on a hard disk that is not empty,
all the data on that hard disk is permanently deleted. We recommend that
you back up your hard disk before you follow these steps.

To partition and format your hard disk by using the Windows XP Setup
program: 1. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive or
DVD-ROM drive, or insert the first Windows XP Setup disk into the floppy
disk drive, and then restart the computer.


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316941


Picture , XP
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/0-blog-...tion-space.png

and Vista, see the
http://www.winsupersite.com/images/r...install_08.jpg
Drive Options (advanced)


Step by step and pictures for Vista
http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_vista.htm

[felix8406]

Like Crabby mentioned, no need to format. If ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Snuffy]

At least check it for hidden partitions or files or data.
you can change the attribs easy enough.
Maybe it is due to my age... I do not trust the PRE-FORMATTED Floppys, HDD's, Data storage of any kind.
I have opened (Factory) SEALED, HDDs, DVD-RWs, CD-RWs, Flash Media, and on testing found they contained: Porn(one HD actually had 4 hours of PORN Movies0n AVI format, Weddings (video and still shots), Viris, Trojans, Malware, keyloggers, games, and personal data of all sorts.
I agree with "If its not broke - don't fix it", but plz make sure it is not BROKE.