How to: Format a non-system hard drive.
Solution:
Display the hard disk dialog box in 'My Computer' and select the 'Format' option.
NOTE: You cannot format the hard drive Windows 95 is running on.
1) Double-click the 'My Computer' icon on the desktop. (The 'My Computer' window appears.)
'My Computer' window
2) Select the appropriate hard drive.
3) Select the 'File' menu and select 'Format...'. (The 'Format' dialog box appears)
Format disk dialog box
4) Select the drive capacity from the 'Capacity' drop-down list box.
5) Select a format type:
a) Select the 'Quick (erase)' radio button to erase a disk completely that was previously formatted. (This option is handy when only the diskette contents must be erased.)
b) Select the 'Full' radio button to format a new diskette that has not yet been formatted. This option also detects bad sectors.
c) Select the 'Copy system files only' radio button only if the drive is already formatted. This option copies system files to the drive.
6) Do one of the following:
a) Type a drive label in the 'Label' box. (The label may be up to 11 characters - 8 characters with a 3-character extension.)
b) Select the 'No Label' check box to format a drive without any label. (A label can be added at a later date.)
7) (Optional) Select the 'Display summary when finished' check box to display a dialog box with drive information after the format is complete. This option is advisable to identify bad sectors, disk capacity and other disk information.
8) (Optional) Select the 'Copy system files' check box to enable Windows to place system files on the drive while it is being formatted.
9) Click 'Start' to begin formatting the drive.
10) If necessary, click 'Close' to close the 'Format Results' dialog box.
11) Click 'Close' to close the 'Format' dialog box.
