What happens to my Windows if I format my Hard drive?
819430
Yes you will lose windows , unless you partition your drive and make a new space for a new version of windows. Partitioning splits your drive into separate segments so you can have 1,2,3 or 4 operating systems on one hard drive.  Partition magic is a good tool for this.  When you boot your system , you will have a choice of windows to use.   Id advise you not to format your drive if you are unsure what to do , and dont have a genuine copy of windows to reinstall with.
923675
if u have  a windows xp bootable disk, then insert it and it will give u an option to format it. cuz if u format the c drive, which i think contains ur windows, u may need the windows disk to reinstall windows on it.
526403
I bet that you would only need to format your hard drive because it seems that only the OS is faulty. I trust that you know how to format the drive right. And I also expect you to be able to re-install windows. As a matter of fact, if you have an installation disk(Windows 2000), then insert it into the CD-drive and the computer should begin to load it. But first go to the CMOS settings and change the boot order to CD-ROM. Back to the Windows installation, now when the installation has completely loaded, you will be given three options: Install Windows 2000, Repair Windows 2000, and quit installation. If you have an emergency repair disk then select repair Windows 2000, if you don't then select install windows 2000. By selecting install Windows you will be given more options. I didn't install Windows in a while so my guess is install fresh copy, and re-install with current files. After that you can choose between either two it is your call. I hope this helped you.
1048042
there is no way to do it if format hard drive doesn't work
277300
You don't need to reformat your hard drive to replace Windows.\n\nIf all you want to do is to replace Windows, just do a "clean" install.\n\nHowever, if you want to reformat your hard drive and erase everything on it, you can go to the Microsoft web site and read in the Knowledge Base  how to do that.  Be sure that is what you want to do because you can loose everything.  If you are not sure of what you are doing, it is worthwhile to pay someone to reformat your hard drive.
495826
Are you using Microsoft Windows setup CD to format?  Make sure you are using a utility CD or disk.\n\nLike others said, you cannot format your hard drive, if you are actively running Windows.  You need to format it from a separate outside source like a boot or utility disk or CD.  If you do format your hard drive I would also suggest using format c: /s which copies system files to the hard drive if you want to use that hard drive to boot from. You can create a boot disk by formatting a floppy disk if you have one with system files and have it boot the computer up.  Then you can format the hard drive..assuming you have the format command file on your disk.  Or just use Windows Setup CD..which is much easier.
1077865
What I would do is re-install Windows and all your software on the new HD and slave your current crashed HD without formatting see if you can recover any data from it.  Here are instructions on HD installation. http://www.basichardware.com/HowTo_Install_Hard_Drive.html
784450
before deleting data, plz save all ur necessary data.\n\n1. Right click on hard drive. e.g. C:&#92;> and click on "Format"\n2. Mark "Quick Format" and click on "Start" button.\n3. Repeat this process for every drive... thats it... \n\nThis thing u can also do from command Prompt\n\n1. C:&#92;> Format\nthat drive will be formatted\n\n2. apply 1st step for every drive.
1140789
A Format will erase the Drive, volume, or partition entirely. You cannot format a partition/drive you are currently booted on, so you need to boot off something else.... a startdisk or utility CD for example. When you do this, you are running DOS of the bootdisk.
946994
To format the drive you will have to reinstall the operating system with the install cd that you have. All your information will be erased if you format the hard drive and a new operating system will be installed over the old one. Put your Windows XP cd in the drive and restart your computer, when it asks you if you want to boot from cd hit the space bar and run through the install process.
915231
You'll need to boot to something other than that hard drive - such as a windows CD, a Win98 boot floopy (google it) or a Linux CD.  You can then format the hard drive, which will erase the entire contents of it.\n\nYou can also put the hard drive in another computer and format it that way.
72805
You do realize that if you do this, you will loose all the data on the drive AND the operating system if you perform it on the boot (C:) drive.\n\nOkay, you've been warned, whatever drive you want type in format c: (or whatever drive letter you want).\n\nThat's the simple way, a lot more commands are located here, http://www.computerhope.com/formathl.htm#01
776735
If you format a drive/partition ALL information is lost.
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".
743297
First of all, you do NOT reformat a computer. You can reformat the hard drive, which will erase all the data currently on the drive (or more correctly, on the current partiton of the drive which you are reformatting)\n\nDifferent computer Operating Systems have different commands to reformat their drives. If you are using windows, and you reformat the main hard drive (probably called C:) you will loose windows and then need to re-install windows from a CD.\n\nIf you are reformatting a different drive, (not the drive Windows is installed to) you can open My Computer or Windows Explorer and go to the FILE menu and choose FORMAT. Be sure you have selected the proper drive before you choose format.\n\nOn other systems, the commands and ways to get to them are different, and the best thing would be to consult your computer's reference guide (if you have one)\n\nSpecial Note: As I stated earlier, reformatting a drive ERASES EVERYTHING on it. Be absolutely sure you are reformatting the right drive, and that there is nothing on the drive you want to keep. While there are ways to get data back after a reformat, they are time consuming, don't always work, and usually require buying a software package.
1037195
Format your hard drive if you are not already doing so.
765330
First of all, when you talk about formatting all your current data will be gone.\n\nWhen you start up your laptop go into BIOS (usually pressing F1 or F2 or DEL). Look for an option in there to check the Boot Order. Change (if it's not set already) to Boot from CD-Rom first.  \n\nThe Windows 2000 boot disk will format the hard drive automatically and install for you just follow the directions.\n\nGood luck.