How to format hard drive Pi2515

Probably, the new operating system cannot recognize your Seagate external hard drive. You can connect the Seagate external hard drive to another computer to copy data to another device. If the problem still exists, you might need to perform data recovery. You can free download the data recovery software: http://www.icare-recovery.com/seagate-recovery/seagate-external-cannot-be-recognized.html

You probably need to give more details. If it's a replacement drive, did you reinstall Windows from a CD? Did you copy from the original hd? It's simple enough to remove the two cables from the original drive, physically remove and replace the drive, and hook up the new drive. But then you'd need to boot to a Windows CD in the CD/DVD player to format and install Windows, if that's what you're attempting to do.

There's possibly a recovery partition on the old drive )or a recovery CD). If so, you'd connect the new drive to a second power cable, and data cable (which might not be included in the tower) :

(from http://support.gateway.com/s/Manuals/Desktops/8510406.pdf)

To restore system software from the Recovery discs:
1 Insert the Recovery disc #1 into the CD or DVD drive.
2 Restart the computer, then press and hold
R when prompted to display the restore process options. The
Options menu appears.
3 Select a restore process option:
- Press R to boot from the hard drive recovery partition
or CD. If no recovery partition is found, go to Step 4.
- Press F to format the hard drive and perform a full system
recovery, then go to Step 5.
4 Click a system restore option. For more information, see
"Restoration options" on page 5.
- Non-Destructive System Restore (Recommended)
- Full System Restore (Destructive)
- Full System Restore (with Backup) (Advanced Option)
5 Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the system
software restoration process.

Instructional steps to follow Things You'll Need:

• File storage device (CD, DVD or flash drive)
• Operating system recovery disc

1. Save the files you want to keep from your laptop's hard drive to a storage device such as a rewritable DVD or USB flash drive. Unplug any USB or Ethernet cables connected to the laptop.
   
2. Insert the Windows recovery disc into your computer's optical drive. Restart the operating system.
   
3. Press any key when the "Press any key to boot from CD" option appears on the screen. Use the drop-down menus to select the language and time options you want to use.
   
4. Click "Next" and then choose "I accept the license agreement." Select the "Custom (Advanced)" option.
   
5. Click the option for the laptop's hard drive partition and then choose "Drive Options (Advanced)." Click the "Format" link in the lower right corner.
   
6. Select "OK" and wait for the hard drive to be formatted. Click the partition again and then choose "Next" to reset the laptop back to its factory settings.dont forget to leave your comment by saying how helpful this tip is to you
   

If you have formated your hard drive, you can't restore your system. You have to do a fresh installation for your Operating System(OS) using the OS CD/DVD.

Hi,

You cannot format the hard drive while it's in use by the operating system itself.
The best way to reformat the drive is with the XP install CD to fully reinstall the operating system. That will wipe all the settings, programs pictures, documents etc.

If you don't have an XP CD you will need to manually go through the computer and delete everything that you don't want the next owner to see.

Alternatively, you can take out the hard drive and then pass it on and leave it for the next owners to get a hard drive and install an operating system.


Regards.

you need to use the recovery disc that came with laptop back up all important files first to either external hard drive or usb drive then restart computer press F12 on your computer put recovery cd in dvd drive then select boot from cd in the list that comes up when you press F12 when disc loads choose factory restore option.if you haven't got the recovery cd then you need to get your hands on a copy of windows some good deals on ebay at moment

The easy way is to do this via the vista os CD or an old xp one.

You will need to reboot your PC as it starts up look out for 'boot options' and select boot from your cd drive. If you do not get this option then please reboot again then go into boot options and select your CD rom or DVD rom to be your boot device.

For both options after making the change and your have your CD i, you will be given to option to press any key.

make sure you select to reinstall windows, at this point you will be be given the option to format your hard drive.

If you need more info or the PC is a laptop with out a CD Rom / DVD rom let me know and I will go over other ways to format your hard drive.

1st Option: Go to BIOS level and select the CD/DVD device is the first device for boot option and then insert the recovery CD/DVD to format or install OS.
2nd Option: If recovery CD/DVD got curropted and you are having the other OS CD/DVD, then try to load and format or install the OS. Also try to download the recovery image from vendor website.

Revert back for more assistance.

Hello jerapur_123 What you'll need:

• Recovery CD or Restore CD from the MFG
• WIndows Operating Disk 98 or ME, 2000, XP or Vista.
• A CD Rom Drive
• Or a Floppy for low level formatting.

Key Steps to Formatting
Back it Up!
Before the format process, you want to make sure that if your goal is hard drive recovery, you back-up as much personal data and information from your hard drive as you need. In some instances where a virus has caused serious system damage, this may not be possible, but if your format is planned ahead of time you certainly can copy and archive data off your hard drive before you start the format process.

How to Format
If you purchased your computer from systems vendor such as a Dell, HP Compaq or Gateway system, you most likely will have a set-up or a restore-and-recovery CD (also referred to as a master CD) that came with the system. If this is the type of system you use, then a format is an easy process as the master CD by inserting the CD into your CDROM, will format the hard drive, reinstall your Windows operating system, and install any software and programs that came with the system. If you no longer have your master set-up CD, you should contact the manufacturer to get a replacement.


How to Format without a Recovery Disk:

If you aren't using this type of mass-market system, then a hard drive format will consist of you formatting the hard drive manually, installing your Windows OS from CD, then installing your software programs and hardware drivers. Before you begin the formatting process, it is important to make sure you have all your driver CDs located, Windows CD and your software CDs to ensure a smooth set-up.
It's also important to know about your operating system before you format. For example, if you're going to be reinstalling an older version of the operating such as Windows 98 or Windows ME then you should have a Windows 98 or ME start-up disk to complete the procedure. In this instance, you would restart the system with the start-up floppy in the drive. Upon system boot, you will choose to have CD-ROM support. Once the files load you can then choose to run the format command on your main drive (usually C drive). If you are using Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista the Windows installation process offers "format your hard drive" as an option. Here you would ensure your computer is set to boot from CD-ROM (a setting in your system BIOS), insert the Windows CD and restart the computer. From there you will be on your way to reformatting.

As you can see there are many options to formatting a hard drive. Hopefully this gives you a good understanding that most of the operating systems today do the formatting for you, all you need to do is pick that option as you follow the onscreen steps when you install either your Restore, or Operating System.

Good Luck,

Mark

Please don't forget to leave a rating.

This generally indicates a hard drive failure. You can try to do an operating system repair with the recovery or operating system disc, but most likely you will need to replace the hard drive.

When you see the IBM screen you need to enter the boot menu. On this screen it tells you what to press to get to the boot menu. Place the recovery or operating system disc in the drive, and select the CD drive from the boot menu, then follow the directions. If the repair doesn't work, then reformat the hard drive and install a new operating system. If you have any issues during or after the format or install, then the hard drive has failed and will need replaced. You want to do a full NTFS format, not the quick format, if the hard drive is bad, it won't format.