The most frequently asked question: "How to format a hard drive on a laptop or desktop computer?" What is it for? This article will describe how to carry out this procedure and its purpose.
Format internal hard drive using built-in software tools
The Windows operating system already has built-in utilities that allow you to format without using third-party software. This process can be done in two ways:
- Formatting using the Disk Control Panel. In this case, you need to call the context menu by hovering over the "My Computer" icon on the desktop and clicking the right mouse button. Next, select the "Management" item, after which a new window will open, in which all available functions will be displayed. In the left part of it, you need to select the item "Storage devices", and after that - "Disk Management". All media will be displayed on the right side of the window.information, their file system, and will be given the opportunity to work with them.
- Formatting with File Explorer. To complete the task, just move the mouse cursor over the "My Computer" icon and left-click on it to open a new window. All information storage devices will be displayed on its left side. Select the required disk, move the cursor, right-click, and select the "Format" function in the context menu that appears. Next, set all the necessary parameters and click on the "Start" button.
Formatting a hard drive from BIOSa
This function is executed in the following cases:
- Installing software. It is carried out both through the built-in capabilities of any distributions, and with the involvement of third-party programs, such as Acronis. It should be remembered that if this operation is carried out with a drive that was already in operation, then before formatting the hard drive on a laptop or desktop computer, you must backup all the information on it.
- When replacing the HDD. The essence of the work performed is to partition a new hard disk into logical partitions and then install the software. In this case, you can get by with the standard features of the installed software and not use other programs.
View media files
Many want repeatedlywatch your favorite movies, listen to music or rummage through the family photo archive using a large screen TV and DVD player or any other device that supports reading information from external media via USB. However, standard plastic media (CDs) sooner or later get scratched and, as a result, fail. And the amount of information recorded on them is negligible. And what is the way out of this situation? Ordinary hard drives for laptops and the so-called "pockets" (special devices for connecting hard drives to other devices) come to the rescue.
But that's not all. It is worth remembering that a DVD player or the same car radio supports only one format of an external drive, and in order for everything to work correctly, you must format the hard drive to fat32 before recording multimedia files. So, the device will recognize the external source and read all the information normally.
What should I do if my hard drive asks to format it?
During the operation of hard drives, there are situations in which the operating system may suddenly ask you to format the internal hard drive. This can be associated with a number of very different reasons, the main of which is the failure of the drive. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that it is not recommended to carry out the procedure using the built-in software tools, since all stored ondrive information. Before formatting a hard drive on a laptop or desktop computer, you should use a third-party utility that will allow you to backup information. Many of the experts in this case recommend using Acronis or GetDataBack. How to use these applications is quite easily described in the instructions for working with them. This method is also well suited in cases where a flash drive or external hard drive asks to format them.
In cases where this method does not give positive results, you should immediately stop further actions and contact a certified service center.
Deleting information during pre-sales preparation
In our life there are situations when we have to part with our beloved PC. And for this it is necessary to carry out pre-sale preparation and remove all unnecessary information for a potential buyer. In such cases, a logical question arises: "How to format a hard drive on a laptop or desktop computer so that it is not possible to recover deleted files and folders?"
To do this, you need to make a backup copy of all information, and format the all-logical disks, then write any kind of files to them and then re-format them. The last step in preparing a PC for sale is to replace your old operating system with a new one. This procedure is carried out directly from under the BIOSa usinginstallation disk.
Can frequent formatting of a hard drive cause any harm?
Contrary to popular belief, I would like to note that even the most frequent formatting of the hard drive of a laptop, desktop computer or external drive cannot cause any harm. This procedure does not in any way contribute to the demagnetization of the platter surface, the appearance of bad sectors, premature wear of the HDD drive, or any other failure that can lead to drive failure. These are all myths that are not supported by facts. The surest way a hard drive ends up in a landfill is through misuse, overheating, or shock.
