Hard Drive Formatting Problems

Hard drives write data as magnetic spots to one or more platters.

A user should always format a new hard drive before attempting to store data to it for the first time. Windows includes Disk Management, a built-in utility that allows users to format hard disks that are connected to the system.

Function

Hard drive formatting wipes a disk of any data that is stored on it, while setting up a file system on the disk to prepare the drive for storage. "File system" refers to the method a hard disk drive implements to write files to the disk.

Types

Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP support three different file systems: NTFS, FAT16 and FAT32. Older versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system only support FAT. NTFS supports encryption and compression of individual files, unlike FAT.

Problems

Windows will not format a disk if the operating system is installed on that disk. Attempting to format the operating system from within the OS will result in a logical crash.

Solutions

You must format the disk from DOS or from an operating system installed to another hard drive. Both hard drives must be connected to the same computer.

References

• Microsoft: NTFS vs. FAT: Which Is Right for You?
• Ask Leo: I Can't Format My Hard Drive: It Keeps Telling Me "Volume Is in Use by Another Process"