What would be the best program to prepare a Hard Drive for another OS?

Question

I have windows XP, but it was corrupted. I used my vista computer to format the hard drive.

I'm trying to install a different windows (a custom XP SP3 version) on the hard drive, but I keep getting a blue screen. I don't believe it's the XP SP3 CD (others have reported it working) but the hard drive itself. I don't think it's ready to accept XP OS for whatever reason.

What would be the best program I could use to completely wipe my Hard Drive (don't bother with the data destruction tools, it's not security I'm looking for) and return it (as close as possible) to when I first bought it?

Answer 1

Download the ultimate boot cd or hirens boot cd



you can format the drive blow away partitions all day with the apps on there

Answer 2

Well when you first bought it, it probably had an OS installed. The only way to get back to that would be if they gave you a recovery disk. I'll assume that's not what you want to do.



Depending on what OS you are trying to install, everything you need is likely on the install CD. Let's go with WinXP as an example. You should have a bootable CD, so to begin the install boot from the CD. Once in the install process, when it gets to the point of asking you what partition you want to install to you can actually delete the current partition and add a new one. That's the best way to do it. That will essentially wipe the drive clean, all data will be gone (not physically, but that's where the data destruction tools come into play).



All Windows versions, Free BSD and most linux distros give you some utility in the install where you can modify the partitions on the drive. Delete and add new is the best way to ensure your drive is clean and ready for a fresh install.

Answer 3

Sounds like your problem wasn't Windows to begin with, it was the hard drive itself or the Bios. You can format the hard drive all you want, but if there is a mechanical problem, it will never function correctly.



When you start up your computer, there is an option to enter Setup Mode or Bios mode. Usually you have to press F2 twice or hold shift or something, but it usually will tell you when you start up. Anyway, there is an option to format your drives from there. That is the best way to do it. Period. If you still can't start your new OS installation disc, you may have a problem with the mechanics of your hard drive or the state of your Bios. In that case you will need to do what you should have done from the beginning and take it to a professional. They will change your Bios battery or adjust your Bios settings as needed and let you know if your system is irreparable without new parts.

Answer 4

IF the disk is good , Xp gives you the option to remove all Operating systems from the hard drive before installation , there is no need for a 3rd party application here

Answer 5

does you drive make any noise if not good

does another os pick the drive up if yes good if no hard drive controller

in another computer that has os you could right click on drive and Select properties then go to tools and select error checking this will test and fix hard drive problems on next start up, then reformatting it.

if you are still having problems you might have a damage MBR

http://free-backup.info/fixing-the-mbr-for-hard-drive-recovery.html

Answer 6

If others have reported that it is a working copy of XP. It maybe that the drive is failing. Here's a list of some disk diagnostic tools. I have used the Seagate tools in the past.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/tophddiag.htm

Answer 7

If it's a maxtor it comes with software for doing that, otherwise I'd try UBCD and try some of the formatting and fdisk utilities there. UBCD is Ultimate Boot CD and you'll find the site by typing that into a search engine (Yahoo!), which I just did, it's http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ just download and burn, then use it to boot and setup.

Answer 8

Easiest answer.



Download the o.s. Ubuntu. Install it fully making sure to reformat the entire drive (it does a good job of formatting out all Windows stuff completely). And then try to install XP. It's not security as you said, it's merely a better formatting than Windows will do on itself.

Answer 9

Use Acronis Migrate Easy 7.0 or Acronis True Image Home 2009

Answer 10

Good old MSDOS (Win 98 version). It will give you FDISK so you can partition the drive and clean the Master boot record and FORMAT to wipe the drive.

Answer 11

well in the first place you shouldn't have wiped it you should have booted from the disc and let it wipe the hard drive and reinstall xp for you

Answer 12

What you need is to "wipe" the disk. Wiping is the surest way to remove any remnants, including previous formatting.

http://www.dban.org/about

Answer 13

It doesn't matter what's on the harddrive and you don't have to clean it before you're installing XP.



The BSOD is caused by something else. Definitely nothing to do with the harddisk. Without knowing what the BSOD says I can't tell you what the problem might be.

Answer 14

BART PE it lets you wipe the hardive clean and format it

Answer 15

Just reformat it to fat32 and try again... if it fails pm me and i can upload a corporate copy to rapidshare or megaupload of MS Windows XP sp2 that passes verification with no serial key required

Answer 16

try nortons partition magic or a program like that