Reformat w7

[Mark Fuller]

I am trying to reformat an old pata hdd with w7 from another computer than the original one because the cd doesn't work on the original. I can boot to the cd and bring up the w7 start menu, but the w7 program doesn't give me the option to format the hdd connected to a usb adapter, it only lists the partitions on the computer's internal hdd. I am using an hp laptop to try and reformat the hdd. How do I get the w7 program to give me the option to format the pata hdd if I can? It shows up in device manager.

 

[DelJo63]

Create a bootable thumbdrive, add the tools there.

 

[Mark Fuller]

Ok. I'll try that, but a tech on microsoft's website said that windows 7 could not be used with and external hdd with a usb adapter.

 

[DelJo63]

Use ANY OS to get the internal drive reformatted to NTFS. Then you should be able to use your OEM Win/7 CDs for a full install.

 

[Mark Fuller]

With another w10 laptop, I created a partition called new volume on the hdd using disk management, is that the same thing? If it is, it sitll won't format w7.

 

[DelJo63]

With another w10 laptop, I created a partition called new volume on the hdd using disk management, is that the same thing? If it is, it sitll won't format w7.

The new partition might be useful(depending upon size), but even that would need formatting. There's nothing special about a Win/7 partition vs any other and if you can create New Volume, you can format it. So I wonder, what do you mean when you say will not format w7?

 

[Mark Fuller]

When I boot to the installation disk, it does not list the external hdd connected by a usb adapter. It just lists the partitions on the internal hdd. It is a pata hdd connected by usb adapter. It shows up in device manager when I boot to the os. A tech on microsoft's website said that windows 7 could not be used with and external hdd with a usb adapter.

 

[DelJo63]

It shows up in device manager when I boot to the os. A tech on microsoft's website said that windows 7 could not be used with and external hdd with a usb adapter.

That makes sense, as the USB driver is needed to access the external and has not yet been loaded so as to boot from the external.

The confusion was "reformat win/7"

 

[Mark Fuller]

Thanx anyway