Windows 7: won't let me reformat

[R-DEV]Dunehunter · 01-21-2010, 02:32 PM

Hey guys, just got my second new HD and re-installed Windows 7, but I'm having some issues.

As you can see, I've got three HDs: the 150gb Raptor is meant for the OS/some games, the 500gb is meant for the rest of my games/assorted applications and the 1TB one for files. However, when I try to reformat the 500gb one, it won't let me...any suggestions as to how I can fix this? I've got some knowledge about computers, but it isn't exactly in-depth.

[R-DEV]Deadfast · 01-23-2010, 08:00 AM

What exactly do you mean by it won't let you?

I can see a problem with the fact that for some reason your boot loader is installed on the 500GB HDD.

[R-DEV]Dunehunter · 01-23-2010, 08:08 AM

Yeah, that appears to be the issue, as it won't boot when I unplug everything but the 150gb...how do I fix this?

[R-DEV]Deadfast · 01-23-2010, 09:05 AM

Well, to be honest this is a pretty f-ed up situation.

I do know how to install the boot loader on the correct HDD (fixboot), but I have no idea how to get it off the 500GB one.

[R-DEV]Dunehunter · 01-23-2010, 09:09 AM

Hm, alright...is it such an a-typical situation then?

I simply installed Windows 7 on a new HD

Though, I did do it using daemontools.

dominator200 · 01-25-2010, 01:17 PM

try using gparted its software that boots up on startup and allows u to set wat eva needs u have for ur hard drives shirk make them bootable all sorts hope this helps

Mr.Hyde · 01-25-2010, 01:22 PM

I was waiting for someone to post an absolute solution seeing as the problem doesn't seem that hard to fix. butt.....

have you tried the format N: in CMD?

[R-DEV]Deadfast · 01-26-2010, 09:53 AM

His problem is the stupid Windows boot loader which for some reason installed on his data drive instead of the one where the system is.

There is only one way to get rid of it I can think of - use Linux's zero fill. This will rewrite whatever range you specify with zeros (that includes boot loader section and the partition table). This is obviously a bit drastic (and something I wouldn't want to explain over internet forums) so I'm just hoping somebody will have a better idea.

Mr.Hyde · 01-26-2010, 10:18 AM

Restoring Windows Boot Loader Manually | Knowledge Base

[R-DEV]Deadfast · 01-26-2010, 11:00 AM

That won't get him rid of the boot loader from the data drive...

01-21-2010, 02:32 PM	#1
[R-DEV]Dunehunter Lead Forum Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Belgium Location: Ghent Posts: 13,072 Blog Entries: 2	Windows 7: won't let me reformat Hey guys, just got my second new HD and re-installed Windows 7, but I'm having some issues. As you can see, I've got three HDs: the 150gb Raptor is meant for the OS/some games, the 500gb is meant for the rest of my games/assorted applications and the 1TB one for files. However, when I try to reformat the 500gb one, it won't let me...any suggestions as to how I can fix this? I've got some knowledge about computers, but it isn't exactly in-depth.
	To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. [R-MOD]Jigsaw]I am drunk. I decided to come home early because I can''t realy seea nyithng. I hthknk i madea bad choicce. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-23-2010, 08:00 AM	#2
[R-DEV]Deadfast PR: ArmA2 Lead Developer Join Date: Jul 2007 Czech republic Location: Prague Posts: 4,259 Blog Entries: 4	Re: Windows 7: won't let me reformat What exactly do you mean by it won't let you? I can see a problem with the fact that for some reason your boot loader is installed on the 500GB HDD.

01-23-2010, 08:08 AM	#3
[R-DEV]Dunehunter Lead Forum Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Belgium Location: Ghent Posts: 13,072 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Windows 7: won't let me reformat Yeah, that appears to be the issue, as it won't boot when I unplug everything but the 150gb...how do I fix this?
	To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. [R-MOD]Jigsaw]I am drunk. I decided to come home early because I can''t realy seea nyithng. I hthknk i madea bad choicce. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-23-2010, 09:05 AM	#4
[R-DEV]Deadfast PR: ArmA2 Lead Developer Join Date: Jul 2007 Czech republic Location: Prague Posts: 4,259 Blog Entries: 4	Re: Windows 7: won't let me reformat Well, to be honest this is a pretty f-ed up situation. I do know how to install the boot loader on the correct HDD (fixboot), but I have no idea how to get it off the 500GB one.

01-23-2010, 09:09 AM	#5
[R-DEV]Dunehunter Lead Forum Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Belgium Location: Ghent Posts: 13,072 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Windows 7: won't let me reformat Hm, alright...is it such an a-typical situation then? I simply installed Windows 7 on a new HD Though, I did do it using daemontools.
	To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. [R-MOD]Jigsaw]I am drunk. I decided to come home early because I can''t realy seea nyithng. I hthknk i madea bad choicce. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-25-2010, 01:17 PM	#6
dominator200 Join Date: Apr 2009 United Kingdom Location: england Posts: 180	Re: Windows 7: won't let me reformat try using gparted its software that boots up on startup and allows u to set wat eva needs u have for ur hard drives shirk make them bootable all sorts hope this helps

01-25-2010, 01:22 PM	#7
Mr.Hyde Join Date: Jun 2009 Germany Location: Heidelberg Posts: 190	Re: Windows 7: won't let me reformat I was waiting for someone to post an absolute solution seeing as the problem doesn't seem that hard to fix. butt..... have you tried the format N: in CMD?
	"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" ~Benjamin Franklin

01-26-2010, 09:53 AM	#8
[R-DEV]Deadfast PR: ArmA2 Lead Developer Join Date: Jul 2007 Czech republic Location: Prague Posts: 4,259 Blog Entries: 4	Re: Windows 7: won't let me reformat His problem is the stupid Windows boot loader which for some reason installed on his data drive instead of the one where the system is. There is only one way to get rid of it I can think of - use Linux's zero fill. This will rewrite whatever range you specify with zeros (that includes boot loader section and the partition table). This is obviously a bit drastic (and something I wouldn't want to explain over internet forums) so I'm just hoping somebody will have a better idea.

01-26-2010, 10:18 AM	#9
Mr.Hyde Join Date: Jun 2009 Germany Location: Heidelberg Posts: 190	Re: Windows 7: won't let me reformat Restoring Windows Boot Loader Manually \| Knowledge Base
	"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" ~Benjamin Franklin

01-26-2010, 11:00 AM	#10
[R-DEV]Deadfast PR: ArmA2 Lead Developer Join Date: Jul 2007 Czech republic Location: Prague Posts: 4,259 Blog Entries: 4	Re: Windows 7: won't let me reformat That won't get him rid of the boot loader from the data drive...

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