Harddrive problem

[maxisdead]

I've got a backup harddrive that was formatted under XP. However, XP wasn't working so I've dropped my OS back to ME. How do I reformat the backup so Me can read it and I can use it for storage? Currently my computer wont recognize the backup, I'm assuming because it was formatted with XP. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, if I'm in the wrong forum for this problem, could you let me know. Thx
.

[jtdoom]

Hi
and welcome

I think there can be many answers

easiest
if you used XP to format that drive to NTFS, you should use XP to remove it
then let XP reformat it to fat32

another one (longest)
get wipeout at lurkhere.com and put it on a floppy
(read the little info it has)

then boot off start disk
first use fdisk /status and note number of backup drive
if the drive with C: is number 1
and backup (the one you want to reformat) is 2
put floppy with wipeout.exe in drive
wipeout D: /np
(yes D: in this instance it means drive two)

reboot
start fdisk,
y
5
choose drive 2
create partition (s)
when done, reboot

now, before you format, PLEASE FIRST run DIR D:
if empty (error), format D:

if you created more than one partition
DIR E:
if empty, format E: (if not... don't)

when formating is finished, remove floppy, and reboot
========

the usual method

disk manufactor utility
these normally partition and format a drive superfast
BUT, if it is a maxtor drive, don't even try it.
(Not after XP was used on it)

if you don't know make and model of drive, at lurkhere you can get dug_id, get the details that way, and then go to drivemaker website.

if you see like a gazzilion partitions using the manufactor disktools (others may have same issue after XP was used), blame it on XP, and use XP or wipeout instead

wipeout and fdisk will work, but you will spend like 50 minutes on a 40 giga.

you may want to read about pitfalls

[Alfons]

Here are a couple of options that you might consider as long as the disk itself is recognized by the BIOS:

1. Using FDISK: Use menu item #4 to see what the configuration looks like. If it shows you "Non DOS Partition(s)", then just use the Remove Partition menu item to remove Non DOS Partitions & then create what you want.

2. Go to the Disk Manufacturer's site & see what Utilities they provide. A number of the major manufacturers provide a toolset that includes Disk Preparation Utilities that are easy to use, quicker than Fdisk & Format, Free, & work with most of the common file systems. I use the Maxtor & WD toolsets quite often & they do work as advertised.