Format old hard drive?
469487
Sparky's answers would be right, if your computer just "couldn't see" the drive, but that's not your problem.  The drive is being recognized, so you've got a malfunction with either the drive itself, or the external case (probably the case's power supply).  \n\nDrives are "recognized" by Windows if their IDE cable isn't plugged in properly, or they don't have SOME power coming into them.  So, you have another problem.
665577
Backup Your Data immediately, before trying anything.  Burn it on CDs/DVDs, floppy disks, USB flash drives anything you can get your hands on.\n\nThen invest in a new hard disk the prices are very reasonable nowadays.\n\nRemove the old one and change it to a SLAVE drive.  Install the new one as MASTER.\n\nFormat and partition your new disk.\n\nInstall operating system , applications.  Use the old disk as a temporary disk space.  when it dies throw it as you have all the data.\n\nThis is purely from my experience.  You can try any number of things but Hard disk drives have moving parts and moving parts are suceptible to wear and tear.
472515
Just put your old hard drive in as a slave drive and then copy the files you want to the new hard drive. You obviously cannot get programs (unless it is just a single exe. file and nothing else) because it has to be installed and it is a different operating system.
289490
Reformat the hard drive partition on which it is installed.
1119743
JUst change the HDD with another brand type HDD. Try Western Digital, they are pretty good at hard drives.
852307
You can connect it on a working computer, then go to My Computer -> right click on the external drive -> then click format.\n\nhope this helps...
1159198
For windows based system>>>\nXP- Start Menu>Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt \nNow write  (format c:) c is the name of the drive, replace with the letter of ur drive that u wan2 format.\n\nWin 98- Start Menu>Programs>Command Prompt or Start ur computer in DOS mode and write the same command as XP\n\n\n\nRemember formatting a drive will erase all data from it.\n\n\nNeo
696654
Here's a great 'how to'\nhttp://www.lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live-how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php\n\n///
281733
If you are using it on another computer of your own, just plug it in as a slave drive and then if using Win XP, just go to My Computer and right click on the drive. Then select format and it will wipe it clean for you. \n\nIf you are just going to install windows on it then just format at windows setup.\n\nIf you are not going to be the user of this computer and want to protect your privacy use a tool from http://www.download.com to do a deep format - one in which data cannot be recovered.\n\nGood Luck
5945
As long as the hard drive is plugged in and it shows up in your computer's BIOS (and is given a drive letter) then it doesn't matter where it is... or what enclosure it's contained in.\n\nIf you're using Windows, you should be able to right click on that drive and choose "Format".
65911
format c: /s /u\n\nbut you can only do this from a boot cd / floppy and it will wipe the boot drive clean.\n\nof course that assume a DOS format and not a NTFS format.
710195
get this http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1733195&CatId=2213\nstick your hard drive in it and plug it in the usb port and you can get all of the info from your old drive and now you have a handy, portable hard drive!
84928
There is a software called Easy recovery that has tools for testing the mechanical and logical functions of any hard drive.  You need another hard drive if you are going to attemp any data recovery though.  Check the website.
1054728
First you want to backup any files on the C:&#92; drive that you want to keep. Once that is done you can open My Computer right click the C: Drive and click Format.  This will format that drive and erase any unwanted data.
928886
to reformat an external drive\nplug it into your pc\nrigh click on the drive icon\nselect format
445033
You didnt say whether it was a new of just reformatted HDD, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and start from scratch in the long run it takes less time doing it the right way. FIRST partition the HDD THEN format the HDD go to run type cmd that brings you to the command line then type format space drive letter colon (format c:) that is from the old days now if you need to format a floppy substitute a  for c Once the HDD is formatted correctly, e is usually a CD or DVD drive unless you have multiple HDDs the easiest way is to go to "my computer" and see what is there. if something is missing many times a cable has been disconnected so open the case and check to see all the connections are in place and tight
1031185
just remove the hard drive and stick it into the new one.