How to Format a Desktop PC

If you are getting rid of an old computer, or you have bought one second-hand, it's important to ensure that the PC gets a fresh start by deleting all of the files and reinstalling Windows. The last thing you want is to give someone else all of your business files when they take possession of your old PC. Likewise, if you're going to put your own files on someone else's PC, you want to ensure that you're not going to inherit any problems they might have had – like viruses and malware.

PC Format Options Today

Just a few years ago, if you wanted to format your drive, you could go into the computer's BIOS, blow the partitions, delete and format everything, and then reinstall Windows. Unfortunately, BIOS isn't an option any more. To format a drive, you will have to stay within the confines of Windows.

The good news is that Microsoft has made the process very easy. You can format any drive that Windows isn't occupying, like a USB drive, SD memory card or additional drives installed in your PC. To get rid of all of your personal files and settings, you can reset windows using the "Remove Everything" option.

The bad news is that if you want to completely wipe Windows from your hard drive, you will need to use a third-party utility.

Before Getting Started

Once you format a drive, or reset Windows and remove all of your data, make sure that all of your important files are backed up onto another drive. If everything is on the cloud, like Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive, these files will be okay. But anything on your hard drive should be copied to an external drive. After you have finished copying your Documents, Desktop and other folders, disconnect that drive from the PC so you won't have to worry about accidentally formatting it.

Formatting a Secondary Drive

The Windows Disk Management tool can reformat hard drives that don't have Windows files installed on them. This includes removable drives connected to your PC, like SD memory cards or USB drives.

  1. Open Computer Management

  2. Computer Management is an app in the Windows Control Panel's Administrative Tools section. To open it, click the Windows Start menu, type "computer management" and press Enter.

  3. Open Disk Management

  4. In the Computer Management window, click the arrow beside Storage in the left menu to expand its options and then click Disk Management.

  5. Select a Disk

  6. Carefully examine the drives and partitions to ensure you select the right one. A PC's primary hard drive is usually "Disk 0" and labelled "C." A second drive is normally "Disk 1" with the label "D."

  7. Format the Disk

  8. Right click the drive or partition to format and select "Format." If you have only one drive and one USB drive or SD memory card, it's usually the "D" drive. If the Format option isn't visible or if it's grayed out, it's most likely that you have selected the wrong drive.

  9. A warning appears, telling you that this will erase all data on the drive. Click "OK."

  10. Click the "File System" menu and select "NTFS" and then click "OK" to format the drive.

Resetting Your Windows Drive

  1. Open Settings

  2. Type "settings" in the Windows Start menu and press Enter to open the Windows Settings window.

  3. Open the Recover Options

  4. In the Windows Setting window, click the "Update & Security" icon near the bottom and then click the "Recovery" option in the left menu.

  5. Reset Your PC

  6. Click the "Get Started" button in the"Reset this PC" section. To delete all of your files, click the "Remove Everything" option and then follow the onscreen prompts.



About the Author
