Format second hard drive in a computer that won’t boot​

A non booting computer can be a frustrating situation for any user. There could be multiple reasons for a computer not to boot, such as a corrupted operating system, faulty hardware, or issues with the boot configuration. However, in some cases, you may still need to access or format the second hard drive in the system. Formatting a hard drive erases all the data on it and prepares the drive for new data storage by creating a new file system.

Types of File Systems

Before formatting a hard drive, it’s important to understand the different file systems available. The most common file systems for Windows are NTFS (New Technology File System) and FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32). NTFS is the default file system for modern Windows installations and offers features like file and folder permissions, encryption, and larger file size support. FAT32. on the other hand, is more compatible with older operating systems and some external devices but has limitations on file size (maximum file size of 4GB).

For Linux systems, common file systems include ext4. which is the standard for most Linux distributions, offering features like journaling for data integrity and efficient disk space management.

Safety Precautions

Formatting a hard drive is a permanent data – erasing operation. Before proceeding, make sure to back up any important data from the second hard drive. If possible, connect the hard drive to another working computer and copy the necessary files. Additionally, ensure that you are targeting the correct hard drive. Formatting the wrong drive can lead to data loss of critical files.

Methods to Format the Second Hard Drive

Using a Bootable USB or CD

Creating a Bootable USB

Download a Windows Installation Media: If you have a Windows computer, you can download the Windows installation media from the official Microsoft website. Make sure to select the correct version of Windows that is compatible with your system.

Use a USB Creation Tool: Microsoft provides a Media Creation Tool that can be used to create a bootable USB drive. Run the tool, select the option to create installation media for another PC, and follow the on – screen instructions. Insert a USB drive with at least 8GB of storage and let the tool format and copy the necessary files to the USB.

Booting from the USB

Enter the BIOS/UEFI Settings: Restart the non – booting computer and press the appropriate key to enter the BIOS or UEFI settings. Common keys include F2. F10. Del, or Esc, depending on the computer manufacturer.

Change the Boot Order: In the BIOS/UEFI settings, navigate to the Boot tab and change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive. Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings. The computer will then boot from the USB drive.

Formatting the Second Hard Drive

Select the Install Now Option: Once the Windows installation media has loaded, select the “Install Now” option.

Repair Your Computer: Instead of proceeding with the installation, click on “Repair your computer” at the bottom – left corner of the screen.

Open Command Prompt: From the recovery options, select “Command Prompt”.

Identify the Second Hard Drive: Use the command diskpart to open the DiskPart utility. In DiskPart, use the command list disk to view all the available disks in the system. Identify the second hard drive by its size and other characteristics.

Select and Format the Drive: Use the command select disk X (where X is the number of the second hard drive) to select the drive. Then, use the commands clean to wipe the drive clean, create partition primary to create a new primary partition, and format fs = ntfs quick to format the partition with the NTFS file system quickly.

Using a Linux Live USB

Creating a Linux Live USB

Choose a Linux Distribution: Popular Linux distributions for creating a live USB include Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Fedora. Download the ISO image of your chosen distribution from the official website.

Use a USB Writing Tool: Tools like Rufus (for Windows) or Etcher (available for Windows, macOS, and Linux) can be used to write the ISO image to a USB drive. Select the ISO file and the USB drive in the tool and start the writing process.

Booting from the Linux Live USB

Enter the BIOS/UEFI Settings: Similar to the Windows method, restart the non – booting computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings. Change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive.

Start the Linux Live Session: Once the computer boots from the USB, you will enter a live Linux session where you can use the system without installing it to the hard drive.

Formatting the Second Hard Drive

Open a Terminal: In the Linux live session, open a terminal window.

Identify the Second Hard Drive: Use the command sudo fdisk -l to list all the available disks and partitions. Identify the second hard drive by its size and other details.

Unmount the Drive: If the drive is currently mounted, use the command sudo umount /dev/sdX (where X is the drive letter, e.g., b for the second drive) to unmount it.

Format the Drive: Use the command sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX to format the drive with the ext4 file system. You can also use other file systems depending on your needs.

Using a Hardware Enclosure

Connecting the Hard Drive to a Hardware Enclosure

Select a Compatible Enclosure: Purchase a hardware enclosure that is compatible with the type of hard drive you have (SATA or IDE). Make sure the enclosure supports the size of the hard drive.

Install the Hard Drive: Open the enclosure and carefully install the second hard drive according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Connect the necessary cables (SATA or IDE) and power supply.

Connect the Enclosure to a Working Computer: Connect the enclosure to a working computer using a USB or eSATA cable. The computer should detect the hard drive as an external storage device.

Formatting the Hard Drive on the Working Computer

Open Disk Management (Windows): On a Windows computer, right – click on the Start button and select “Disk Management”. Locate the second hard drive in the list of available disks.

Format the Drive: Right – click on the partition of the second hard drive and select “Format”. Choose the desired file system (NTFS or FAT32) and click “OK” to start the formatting process.

Formatting in Linux: On a Linux computer, open a terminal and use the sudo mkfs command as described in the previous section to format the drive.

Troubleshooting

Drive Not Detected

Check the Connections: If the second hard drive is not detected, check the physical connections inside the computer. Make sure the SATA or IDE cables are properly connected to the hard drive and the motherboard.

Test the Drive in Another Computer: If possible, connect the hard drive to another computer using a hardware enclosure to determine if the drive itself is faulty.

Update BIOS/UEFI: Sometimes, outdated BIOS/UEFI firmware can cause issues with hard drive detection. Check the manufacturer’s website for BIOS/UEFI updates and follow the instructions to update it.

Formatting Errors

Bad Sectors: If the formatting process encounters errors, there may be bad sectors on the hard drive. You can use disk checking tools like chkdsk in Windows or fsck in Linux to scan and repair bad sectors.

Permissions Issues: Make sure you have the necessary administrative permissions to format the hard drive. In Windows, run the DiskPart utility or Disk Management as an administrator. In Linux, use the sudo command to execute commands with administrative privileges.

Formatting the second hard drive in a non booting computer can be achieved through various methods, including using a bootable USB or CD, a Linux live USB, or a hardware enclosure. Each method has its own advantages and requirements. It’s important to take proper safety precautions, such as backing up important data, and to troubleshoot any issues that may arise during the process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to successfully format the second hard drive and prepare it for new data storage.