Seeking a "Format" (format hard drive) Utility

Hi,

I am willing to pay for a utility that I can download (ISO file) and burn
a CD or DVD.

My objective is simply to be able to FORMAT, NTFS format, the internal
hard drive using a bootable CD/DVD ("live") utility. I have done this many
times over the years on various computers, but for FAT16 and FAT32 using a
bootable FD or CD.

The only way I am able to format (NTFS) is to remove the HD, mount it in
a docking station, and connect it to another computer.

Note: I only want to FORMAT without installing an OS.

Thank You in advance, John

On 09/09/2018 01:35 PM, wrote:
Hi,

I am willing to pay for a utility that I can download (ISO file) and burn
a CD or DVD.

My objective is simply to be able to FORMAT, NTFS format, the internal
hard drive using a bootable CD/DVD ("live") utility. I have done this many
times over the years on various computers, but for FAT16 and FAT32 using a
bootable FD or CD.

The only way I am able to format (NTFS) is to remove the HD, mount it in
a docking station, and connect it to another computer.

Note: I only want to FORMAT without installing an OS.

Thank You in advance, John



I would be shocked if you couldn't boot your windows DVD media (or usb)
and drop to a command line and use the format command from there.

On 9/9/2018 11:05 AM, Big Al wrote:
On 09/09/2018 01:35 PM, wrote:
Hi,

I am willing to pay for a utility that I can download (ISO file)
and burn
a CD or DVD.

My objective is simply to be able to FORMAT, NTFS format, the
internal
hard drive using a bootable CD/DVD ("live") utility. I have done this
many
times over the years on various computers, but for FAT16 and FAT32
using a
bootable FD or CD.

The only way I am able to format (NTFS) is to remove the HD,
mount it in
a docking station, and connect it to another computer.

Note: I only want to FORMAT without installing an OS.

Thank You in advance, John



I would be shocked if you couldn't boot your windows DVD media (or usb)
and drop to a command line and use the format command from there.

or linux or hirens boot cd or something from a drive vendor.
Virtually anything you would install starts with the option to format
the hard dive.

Not clear your objective, but I'd delete all the partitions and wipe
the (I forget the name, but it's the space between the boot sector
and the first partition). Hirens has utilities for all this and
a lot more.

wrote in
:

Hi,

I am willing to pay for a utility that I can download (ISO
file) and burn
a CD or DVD.

My objective is simply to be able to FORMAT, NTFS format,
the internal
hard drive using a bootable CD/DVD ("live") utility. I have done
this many times over the years on various computers, but for FAT16
and FAT32 using a bootable FD or CD.

The only way I am able to format (NTFS) is to remove the HD,
mount it in
a docking station, and connect it to another computer.

Note: I only want to FORMAT without installing an OS.

Thank You in advance, John

GParted Live CD is Linux-based, but it can format NTFS partitions.
https://gparted.org/livecd.php

wrote

| I am willing to pay for a utility that I can download (ISO file) and
burn
| a CD or DVD.
|

I like BootIt. It handles pretty much everything:
disk imaging, partition operations, multi-booting....
About $40. It actually fits on a floppy, but I put
it on a CD. If you want all that I think it's a very
good deal. But if all you want is to create NTFS
partitions, there should be several free tools you
can use. (You do realize you'll need to create
either primary or logical partition(s) in order to
format NTFS?) You can probably also use Windows
to create the partition(s) if this is going to be an
extra data disk for a Windows computer. Personally
I never use Windows disk functions for anything.
Other tools seem to be better and have more
functionality.

wrote:
Hi,

I am willing to pay for a utility that I can download (ISO file) and burn
a CD or DVD.

My objective is simply to be able to FORMAT, NTFS format, the internal
hard drive using a bootable CD/DVD ("live") utility. I have done this many
times over the years on various computers, but for FAT16 and FAT32 using a
bootable FD or CD.

The only way I am able to format (NTFS) is to remove the HD, mount it in
a docking station, and connect it to another computer.

Note: I only want to FORMAT without installing an OS.

Thank You in advance, John

Steps:

1) Boot your W7/W8.1/W10 installer DVD, and
select the non-installing route. In there, you
will find a command prompt window.

2) In the command prompt window, enter "diskpart"

list disk === lists disks by size
select disk 2 === we'll assume this disk needs work
list partition === listing partitions confirms identity
clean === zeros the MBR, all partitions lost! (1 second)
clean all === zeros the *entire* disk 2 (2 hours)
create partition primary === align=32256 or align=1048576
id=07 (NTFS)
Partition created on disk 2, our first partition
list partition === should show our single new partition
select partition 1
detail partition === drive letter of new partition (at present)
select partition 2 === if one existed...
detail partition === drive letter of this partition (at present)
exit

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...tition-primary

3) Once you exit from diskpart, you can use the
traditional "format" command in Command Prompt.
If a partition is already in fine shape and you
just want to "fluff the pillow" a bit, use format.
A cluster size of 4096 is default for NTFS. I got
my drive letter using the commands in (2).

format D: /FS:NTFS /V:WIN10C /Q /A:4096

The label info isn't always available on a drive,
and I leave an empty text file "IM_WINXP.txt" on
the root of the drive, as labeling information. Sometimes
the Windows Installer wipes the label, which is one way
to lose that carefully prepared label :-(

4) The "fsutil" utility can tell you stuff too.
Note the inconsistent letter scheme...

fsutil fsinfo volumeinfo C:\
fsutil fsinfo ntfsinfo H:

The installer itself can prepare partitions, but I
don't recommend this (the custom option), due to one
bad experience in the past with it. I suppose with
enough diskpart/format/fsutil commands, you could
also have a bad experience there, so it likely amounts
to the same thing in the end. These are disk commands,
all powerful, and *very destructive*.

If you are a butterfingers (and who isn't), make a backup
while you still have your data partitions or whatever.
Unplug any drives where you don't want bad things to
happen (in an accident).

In one "bad outcome" case, I was able to use TestDisk from
the Internet, to rebuild the MBR and regain access to my
other partitions. I only lost a little hair on that one.

HTH,
Paul

On 09/09/2018 18:35, wrote:
Hi,

I am willing to pay for a utility that I can download (ISO file) and burn
a CD or DVD.

My objective is simply to be able to FORMAT, NTFS format, the internal
hard drive using a bootable CD/DVD ("live") utility. I have done this many
times over the years on various computers, but for FAT16 and FAT32 using a
bootable FD or CD.

The only way I am able to format (NTFS) is to remove the HD, mount it in
a docking station, and connect it to another computer.

Note: I only want to FORMAT without installing an OS.

Thank You in advance, John




Windows ISO file can do it. Burn it on DVD or USB and boot-up your
machine with it. You'll get options to format the HD and when it is
done, you can cancel the installation of the OS. Windows is pretty
smart. Also, you can use any windows ISO including Windows 10 ISO that
is readily available from Microsoft website.



--
With over 950 million devices now running Windows 10, customer
satisfaction is higher than any previous version of windows.

SNIP

Windows ISO file can do it. Burn it on DVD or USB and boot-up your
machine with it. You'll get options to format the HD and when it is
done, you can cancel the installation of the OS. Windows is pretty
smart. Also, you can use any windows ISO including Windows 10 ISO that
is readily available from Microsoft website.

FYI:

My Windows 7 Professional System DVD does NOT present an option to format
the HD. It just prompts you for a New Install or Repair..

My Windows XP SP3 Professional System CD, including my old Windows XP
SP1, does NOT present an option to format the HD. Only two options besides
"Quit" are "To set up Windows.... (install)" or "To repair a Windows XP...."

What version of "Windows" presents "Options to format the HD"?

Thanks in advance, John

In message ,
writes:
SNIP

Windows ISO file can do it. Burn it on DVD or USB and boot-up your
machine with it. You'll get options to format the HD and when it is
done, you can cancel the installation of the OS. Windows is pretty
smart. Also, you can use any windows ISO including Windows 10 ISO that
is readily available from Microsoft website.

FYI:

My Windows 7 Professional System DVD does NOT present an option to format
the HD. It just prompts you for a New Install or Repair..

My Windows XP SP3 Professional System CD, including my old Windows XP
SP1, does NOT present an option to format the HD. Only two options besides
"Quit" are "To set up Windows.... (install)" or "To repair a Windows XP...."

What version of "Windows" presents "Options to format the HD"?

Thanks in advance, John

You _can_ get to a command prompt from those; I forget how - I think you
select "Repair", then something like "Advanced". Whatever, once you've
got to a command prompt, you can format; see Paul's post for the
commands to type if you want to scrub all partitions, set up one
partition, and so on, and to make sure you're working on the correct
disc drive.

I think the person you quoted above (you've SNIPped the attributions)
has said you don't have to go to the command prompt, just select a new
install, which will do a format as part of the installation, which he
says you can interrupt at that point, i. e. before it does the actual OS
install. (Personally, I'd go for the command prompt route.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Sneering doesn't become either the human face or the human soul.
Professor Henry Higgins (in Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw)

SNIP

GParted Live CD is Linux-based, but it can format NTFS partitions.
https://gparted.org/livecd.php

Hi,

I downloaded Gparted live & also saved the instructions.

Viewing the instructions, I did NOT see anything about "Format"
or "Formatting". It does have a lot of features, but the only
one I want is NOT mentioned.

John

On Tue, 11 Sep 2018 07:35:25 -0400, wrote:

SNIP

GParted Live CD is Linux-based, but it can format NTFS partitions.
https://gparted.org/livecd.php

Hi,

I downloaded Gparted live & also saved the instructions.

Viewing the instructions, I did NOT see anything about "Format"
or "Formatting". It does have a lot of features, but the only
one I want is NOT mentioned.

John

Hi,

UPDATE:

I went back to https://gparted.org web site and found another
instructions manual for the same program. Too bad it isn't a .PDF. I think
I found a part that used the word, "format"!!!!

If it does what I want, I WILL make a donation.

John

In message ,
writes:
On Tue, 11 Sep 2018 07:35:25 -0400, wrote:

SNIP

GParted Live CD is Linux-based, but it can format NTFS partitions.
https://gparted.org/livecd.php

When quoting a previous post, it is indeed a good idea to snip the parts
you aren't referring to. I wish more people would do that!

BUT: please don't snip out the attribution, i. e. the line that says who
posted the part you _are_ responding to. (It's not difficult to
identify: it's the line with one fewer ""s than the lines you're
quoting.)
[snip]
If it does what I want, I WILL make a donation.

John

Good policy. I do that too from time to time (e. g. I did to IrfanView).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

As for cooking, what a bore that is. It's such a faff, thinking of what to
have, buying it and cooking it and clearing up, then all you do is eat it -
and have to start all over again next day. Hunter Davies, RT 2017/2/4-10

On 11/09/2018 12:35, wrote:
SNIP

GParted Live CD is Linux-based, but it can format NTFS partitions.
https://gparted.org/livecd.php

Hi,

I downloaded Gparted live & also saved the instructions.

Viewing the instructions, I did NOT see anything about "Format"
or "Formatting". It does have a lot of features, but the only
one I want is NOT mentioned.

John


https://gparted.org/screens/gparted_7_big.png

wrote

| Viewing the instructions, I did NOT see anything about "Format"
| or "Formatting". It does have a lot of features, but the only
| one I want is NOT mentioned.
|

Do you realize that formatting happens to a partition?
In other words, you don't format a disk. You create 1
or more partitions and those get formatted. Note
that GParted is a partition editor. Formatting for a
given filesystem is implied when you create a partition.

On Sun, 09 Sep 2018 18:34:30 GMT, Mark Blain
wrote:

wrote in
:

Hi,

I am willing to pay for a utility that I can download (ISO
file) and burn
a CD or DVD.

My objective is simply to be able to FORMAT, NTFS format,
the internal
hard drive using a bootable CD/DVD ("live") utility. I have done
this many times over the years on various computers, but for FAT16
and FAT32 using a bootable FD or CD.

The only way I am able to format (NTFS) is to remove the HD,
mount it in
a docking station, and connect it to another computer.

Note: I only want to FORMAT without installing an OS.

Thank You in advance, John

GParted Live CD is Linux-based, but it can format NTFS partitions.
https://gparted.org/livecd.php

+1 on GParted.
You can partition and format from a GUI.
[]'s
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