I recently switch back from mac's to windows (that is not what this conversation is about). I have a 250GB Lacie hard drive currently formatted in GPT.

Short of using a vista computer or a mac, does anyone know of a untility that I can use to wipe it so that XP will be able to format it? (I can see it's there but just not read it, so I can't format it).

 

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/GPT-on-x64.mspx

after a quik read as long as it is not the system partition boot to the command line and run "format [drive letter] /fs:NTFS /x

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/format.mspx?mfr=true

 

If you already have it installed you can access the disc under "Administrative Tools", then "Computer Managment".
Near the bottom of the left hand screen you will see "Disc Management" Click there and all the drives that are installed on the screen, online or not, will show up. Click on the disc in question and (I think) choose delete partition and then format. You may have to reboot a few times and relaunch Computer Management to finalize the job.

 

Thread moved the General Non-automotive.

 

The problem is that it doesn't even the drive a letter. In the Disk Management window, I can highlight it, but all options are grayed out, can delete or anything.

 

I just rebooted a few times and it still does not assign the drive a letter.

It is not visible in explorer window or my computer.

I can see it in the Disk Management Window (highlighted).



Any other ideas.

 

well, here is what this old computer geezer does in that case...



3 ways listed here actually....



Method 1:

I would use an oldschool (windows 98) DOS startup disk. usually in floppy, but can be put on a cd as well.

Start the computer off of that DOS disk, then type "fdisk" read the menus, you will have an option to delete partitions, then pick "delete non-DOS" partition.

then after it is done, "create new partition" then highlight "create new DOS partition" and you should be good to go. you can format it in the windows XP from my computer or go back into DOS, and format, but it will be in fat32 if you do that.



OR

another option, which might be better for you (provided you have a regular XP disk)....

Insert your windows XP cd, and start computer off of that. pick the option to go to the repair console. from there, you can fdisk and all that listed above.

OR

method3....

you can let it load to the point to where it asks "where would you like to put windows" then you will have option to delete that drives partition. hit "delete" then it asks are you sure, hit "L" to confirm.

the last 2 only work if you dont have a system like a gateway, or dell, etc,,



if you need any help, or need DOS, let me know via PM, i will help you knock that puppy into shape.

I do work on computers for friends and family as well as others via the grape vine.

 

That's where you can tell your computer to delete the partition, remake a new one and format for use for Windows. Right click on it and choose delete partition. You may or may not have to reboot, I cannot remember right now.
Then choose either create partition and then format, or just format. Then it will take a long time but in the morning you will have a nice new hard drive, ready for input.