How to Format a Windows Partition
A partition is a separated area on a computer hard drive; the Windows operating system considers each partition as a logical drive. Partition formatting is a necessary step to prepare that hard drive area for storing data. Also, formatting permits you to quickly erase data from a partition. Disk Management tools incorporated in Windows allow you to manipulate with partitions on your computer.
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Instructions
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Open an administrator-level user account in Windows XP/Vista/7.
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Click the Windows "Start" button.
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In Windows Vista/7, type "Computer Management" and press "Enter. In Windows XP, click "Control Panel" and then choose "Performance and Maintenance." Click "Administrative Tools" and select "Computer Management."
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Click on the "+" sign to expand the tab "Storage" and select "Disk Management." Note that the Disk Management window contains the graphic representation of each hard drive partition.
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Right-click on the partition to be formatted and click "Format" in the context menu.
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Type a volume label (disk name) and choose the appropriate file system using the drop-down listbox. In most cases, you need to select New Technology File System (NTFS), which is the standard for the latest Windows versions.
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Click "OK" and then "Yes" to confirm formatting.
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Tips & Warnings
Formatting will erase all partition data; consider backing up all necessary files before the procedure.
