Windows 10: Format complete hard drive

Discus and support Format complete hard drive in Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade to solve the problem; I have a hard drive with an older windows 10 version and some other partitions. I want to totally reformat the drive and reinstall windows 10. The... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade' started by Funkyecat, Oct 28, 2017.

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  1. FUNKYECAT
    Funkyecat Win User

    Format complete hard drive


    I have a hard drive with an older windows 10 version and some other partitions. I want to totally reformat the drive and reinstall windows 10. The Device Manager will list only the partitions and not the complete drive. Do I have to format it from a dvd or another hard drive or can it be reformatted from the Media Creation Tool or ?

    :)
     
    Funkyecat, Oct 28, 2017
    #1
  2. JOEKRIDER
    JoeKrider Win User

    Hard Drive Complete Format and Clean Windows 10 Install

    I am running a Gateway SX-2185 that originally came with Windows 8 preinstalled with NO installation disk. I upgraded to Windows 10 Home during the "free" upgrade window. Now I want to take the computer to pristine condition by reformatting the hard drive
    and reinstalling Windows 10. When I try to "RESET" the computer, I get the error message "Could Not Find The Recovery Environment." When I try to download the Windows ISO file (create Windows 10 installation media), I get directed to

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10.     This is a dead link, with nothing on the page directing me elsewhere. I am at a loss as to where to go from here. I shouldn't have to buy a new PC or even a new piece of software to do this.

    Processor: AMD E1-2500 APU with Radeon Graphics 1.40 GHz

    Installed Memory (RAM) 4.00 gig

    System type 64-bit Operating System, x-64 based processor

    Windows edition Windows 10 home

    Windows is activated with a valid ID

    I am at a loss as to what to try next. Any suggestions??? All help will be GREATLY appreciated.

    ***Post has been moved by the moderator to the right forum category***
     
    JoeKrider, Oct 28, 2017
    #2
  3. ANDRE DA COSTA
    Andre Da Costa Win User
    Andre Da Costa, Oct 28, 2017
    #3
  4. Brink
    Brink New Member

    Format complete hard drive

    Brink, Oct 28, 2017
    #4
  5. FUNKYECAT
    Funkyecat Win User
    I don't have the installation media. Maybe create recovery USB.?
     
    Funkyecat, Oct 28, 2017
    #5
  6. LX07
    lx07 Win User
    This will be a problem.

    You can reformat the disk but if you don't have installation media what are you going to do?

    You can reset Windows without reinstalling but that will not reformat the disk - see here Reset Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

    If you reformat the disk you must have some installation to put on it or it will remain empty.
     
    lx07, Oct 29, 2017
    #6
  7. Brink
    Brink New Member
    Brink, Oct 29, 2017
    #7
  8. FUNKYECAT
    Funkyecat Win User

    Format complete hard drive

    One issue is that when I perform a complete reinstall, the compotor setting in Bioe in RAID and I am unable set it to AHCI.
     
    Funkyecat, Oct 29, 2017
    #8
  9. DEACONFROST
    DeaconFrost Win User
    Switch the setting to AHCI and then boot from your install media, such as a flash drive. The Media Creation Tool will create a flash drive for you.
     
    DeaconFrost, Oct 31, 2017
    #9
  10. FUNKYECAT
    Funkyecat Win User
    I was told that you have to format the HD. It cannot be done. I'll try to reinstall win 10, Initially it will not boot from a USB via MCT.
     
    Funkyecat, Oct 31, 2017
    #10
  11. Brink
    Brink New Member
    Brink, Oct 31, 2017
    #11
  12. LX07
    lx07 Win User
    No, you don't have to format the HD. If you boot from USB it doesn't care what is on any of your hard drives and AHCI is a BIOS not a Windows setting.

    Assuming you can boot from your USB you can delete all partitions at that point (either from Windows Installer or any other bootable USB).
     
    lx07, Oct 31, 2017
    #12
  13. FUNKYECAT
    Funkyecat Win User

    Format complete hard drive

    I know, but ut won't work unless you format the drive. I was told by an expeert and have tried it many times.
     
    Funkyecat, Oct 31, 2017
    #13
  14. LX07
    lx07 Win User
    They were wrong.

    You can install Windows on a drive formatted anything by destroying the partition table.

    You can boot the installer USB with no HD connected at all.
     
    lx07, Oct 31, 2017
    #14
  15. FUNKYECAT
    Funkyecat Win User
    There are more then one partitions.
     
    Funkyecat, Oct 31, 2017
    #15
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