When you buy an extra hard drive or may be virus or bad files corrupt your hard drive, then, formatting is necessary when you run out of options. this write up will guide you on the best way to format the hard drive on windows OS and if you need more clarification don't hesitate to comment.
Steps:
# Go to your laptop manufacturer's website and locate updated drivers you will need. These can usually be found on support and/or download pages.
# Download the latest drivers available for your laptop for the specific operating system you want to install. If necessary, you can use a different computer to access these files.
# Put the driver files onto an external storage device such as a CD or USB drive, because these drivers will be erased from the hard drive when you go to format it.
# Insert a Windows installation or recovery CD into your CD-Rom drive. Restart your computer by selecting the "Restart" option on the "Turn off Computer" tab.
# Consult your owner's manual for the location of your "access" key, because the location varies between brands.
# Press the access key while the machine is restarting to reach the BIOS setup in your laptop. Sometimes the timing can be tricky, so start hitting the indicated key as soon as the computer restarts.
#* Check your BIOS settings to confirm your CD-Rom drive is your primary booting device. If needed, select that option and press "Save." Your laptop should then restart.
# Wait for your laptop to start in Windows installation/recovery mode.
# Select "Format" and "Use NTFS File System" for the type of partitioning it needs. This format is the most compatible with the latest Windows systems.
# Let the installer finish running, responding to the remaining command prompts by answering "yes, continue," or by inputting your desired features.
# When your computer restarts again, do not touch your keyboard at the "press any key to reboot from CD" prompt to allow your system to finish installing.
# Remove the recovery/installation CD from your CD-Rom drive after the installation is complete. Your laptop can reboot from its own drive instead of from the CD.
# Install your drivers from the external storage device. Your computer is now ready to go.
Reference: http://www.wikihow.com/Format-a-Laptop-Hard-Drive
Reference: http://www.wikihow.com/Format-a-Laptop-Hard-Drive
