Low level format - 1Tb HDD USB 2

[EugineHax]

Hi all - I have a II Freecom 1Tb USB HDD that is partitioned half for a Mac (OSX) and half for Windows XP. My problem is that I want to reformat the whole drive for use with Windows XP but when I do that from my XP box it only "sees" the NTFS partition.

How do I reformat this drive from within Windows?

Thanks and regards

Eugine

 

[BadBigBen]

Take a look at DBAN, it may be able to nuke that drive over USB...

Darik's Boot and Nuke

http://www.dban.org/

it will take some time for the whole drive to be nuked, but all you really need is the first track on that drive (that is where the identifier and MBR reside, and where the MAC blockage is), then you should be able to repartition that drive and reformat it...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[Glenn9999]

Isn't this something similar to what you would have to do to get Windows XP on a drive that had Vista installed on it? (FIXBOOT & FIXMBR)

----------
Measurement is not management.

 

[ArizonaGeek]

I'd go with Ben's suggestion and use DBaN but just be VERY careful and wipe the correct drive. Last thing you wanna do is wipe a drive with important data and not be able to recover it.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!

 

[paparazi]

Most modern motherboards will see a USB hard drive....so pull out your main drives SATA cable, set to boot from CDrom in the bios..proceed like you are installing a new OS..it should give you an option to boot/install from your external drive so delete all partitions then quick format as one.(disconnect and refit main drive)
You might need to set something in the bios to enable the motherboard to see this drive from a bios state.
Martin

On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[EugineHax]

Thank you all for your help - I should have thought of paparazis suggestion myself, this is probably the safest way to go in that I dont risk my existing C: drive if I make a mistake.
Eugine