How to Format a Hard Drive through BIOS in Windows [2024 User Guide]

Are you looking for an efficient solution with a detailed guide to help you format hard drive from BIOS? On this page, we will show you the complete process of how to format hard drive from BIOS by yourself. Ready? Let's get started.

Can I format the hard drive from BIOS?

Can I format a hard drive in BIOS? The answer is no. You cannot directly format any hard drive from within the BIOS. If you want to format a hard drive without booting into Windows, you can create a bootable USB flash drive/CDDVD and then boot your computer from that device to format the hard drive.

How to Format a Hard Drive in BIOS

There are several reasons why you would need to format or wipe a hard drive from BIOS in Windows 10, such as:

Steps

Method 1 of 6: Erasing All Data on a Bricked Computer's Hard Drive

1. Completely wipe the hard drive on a bricked computer.

2. Reset the hard drive in the BIOS to prepare for Windows installation.

Method 2 of 6: Formatting the Hard Drive Without an Operating System

1. Boot from a USB or CD/DVD with your Windows installation media.

2. Choose your language and other preferences.

3. Click the “Next” button.

4. Click “Repair your computer”.

5. Click “Troubleshoot”.

6. Click “Advanced options”.

7. Click “Command Prompt”.

8. Type diskpart into the Command Prompt, then press {{key|Enter}}.

9. Type list disk into the Command Prompt, then press {{key|Enter}}.

10. Type select disk #, replacing # with the number of the hard drive you want to format, then press {{key|Enter}}.

11. Type clean, then press {{key|Enter}}.

12. Type exit, then press {{key|Enter}} twice to close the Command Prompt and return to the Windows setup menu.

13. Format the hard drive through Windows Setup.

Method 3 of 6: Formatting the Hard Drive on an Unbootable Computer

1. Insert your Windows installation media into the computer.

2. Boot from the USB or CD/DVD.

3. Choose your language and other preferences.

4. Click the “Next” button.

5. Click “Repair your computer”.

6. Click “Troubleshoot”.

7. Click “Advanced options”.

8. Click “Command Prompt”.

9. Type diskpart into the Command Prompt, then press {{key|Enter}}.

10. Type list disk into the Command Prompt, then press {{key|Enter}}.

11. Type select disk #, replacing # with the number of the hard drive you want to format, then press {{key|Enter}}.

12. Type clean, then press {{key|Enter}}.

13. Type exit, then press {{key|Enter}} twice to close the Command Prompt and return to the Windows setup menu.

14. Format the hard drive through Windows Setup.

Method 4 of 6: Formatting a Non-Bootable Hard Drive

1. Boot from the Windows installation media.

2. Choose your language and other preferences.

3. Click the “Next” button.

4. Click “Repair your computer”.

5. Click “Troubleshoot”.

6. Click “Advanced options”.

7. Click “Command Prompt”.

8. Type diskpart into the Command Prompt, then press {{key|Enter}}.

9. Type list disk into the Command Prompt, then press {{key|Enter}}.

10. Type select disk #, replacing # with the number of the hard drive you want to format, then press {{key|Enter}}.

11. Type clean, then press {{key|Enter}}.

12. Type exit, then press {{key|Enter}} twice to close the Command Prompt and return to the Windows setup menu.

13. Format the hard drive through Windows Setup.

Method 5 of 6: Formatting a Non-Bootable Hard Drive

1. Boot from the Windows installation media.

2. Choose your language and other preferences.

3. Click the “Next” button.

4. Click “Repair your computer”.

5. Click “Troubleshoot”.

6. Click “Advanced options”.

7. Click “Command Prompt”.

8. Type diskpart into the Command Prompt, then press {{key|Enter}}.

9. Type list disk into the Command Prompt, then press {{key|Enter}}.

10. Type select disk #, replacing # with the number of the hard drive you want to format, then press {{key|Enter}}.

11. Type clean, then press {{key|Enter}}.

12. Type exit, then press {{key|Enter}} twice to close the Command Prompt and return to the Windows setup menu.

13. Format the hard drive through Windows Setup.

Method 6 of 6: Formatting a System Hard Drive

1. Backup all of your files to an external hard drive or cloud storage.

2. Open the Start menu.

3. Click the gear-shaped “Settings” icon.

4. Click the “Update & Security” tab.

5. Click “Recovery” in the left pane.

6. Click the “Get started” button under “Reset this PC”.

7. Click “Remove everything”.

8. Click “Change settings”.

9. Click the radio button next to “Just remove my files”.

10. Click “Next”.

11. Click “Reset”.

So, how to format hard drive from BIOS? The most effective way is to create bootable media with a bootable USB formatting tool and format the hard drive from the WinPE desktop. Here comes the detailed solution for you.

Three Ways to Format a Hard Drive from BIOS with UTF-8

Here's a comparison table you can refer to for an overview of which method might suit you best:

From the table, it's evident that Windows novices would fare better with a bootable USB formatting tool. Now, let's delve into the detailed steps to format a hard drive or SSD in BIOS settings.

Please note that Methods 2 and 3 require you to create a Windows installation media on a USB drive beforehand. For a detailed guide, you can refer to this page for assistance:

How to Create a Windows 10 Installation USB Drive

This is the official and most straightforward way to create Windows 10 installation media using the Media Creation Tool. You can use it to install Windows, fix your computer, or even format hard drives from a bootable USB.

Method 1: Formatting the Hard Drive with a BIOS Bootable USB Format Tool

• Intended audience: Beginners with Windows
• Supported operating systems: All Windows operating systems
• Required tools: An empty USB drive, and a partition manager tool

The easiest way is to format the hard drive from BIOS, using third-party formatting software, such as Partition Master, which has a WinPE feature that helps you create a bootable USB. This way, you can easily format any kind of hard drive without having to access Windows.

You can format your hard drive straight from BIOS with just a few steps. Here's how:

1. Create a Bootable USB Formatting Tool

Step 1: To create a bootable Partition Master tool disk, you will need a storage medium like a USB drive, flash drive, or CD/DVD disc. Connect the drive to your computer properly.

Step 3. If you have a USB drive or CD/DVD available, select it. If no storage devices are present, you can also save the ISO image to your local drive and burn it to media later. After making your selection, click the Create button to start the process.

• Read the warning, and then click Yes.

Step 4: When it's done, a message will ask you if you want to reboot your computer from the bootable USB.

• Restart Now: You want to restart your computer immediately, bypassing the operating system and booting from the tool's media to manage disk partitions.
• Finish: You do not want to restart your computer now but instead want to use the bootable USB drive on a different computer.

Note: To use the bootable disk on a new computer, you need to restart the target computer and press F2/F8/Delete to enter BIOS, then set the USB bootable disk as the first boot device.

Wait patiently as your computer boots from the USB boot media and loads the WinPE desktop.

2. Format the hard drive from BIOS

Plug in the bootable USB to your computer, restart it, and press F2 or Del to enter BIOS. Set the bootable USB as the boot drive. Wait for the computer to load Partition Master in BIOS to format the drive.

Step 1. Run Partition Master, right click the hard drive partition you want to format and choose “Format”.

Step 2. In the new window, set the "Volume label," "File system" (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and "Cluster size" for the partition to be formatted, then click "OK".

Step 3: You'll see a warning; click “Yes” to continue.

Step 4: Click “Perform 1 Task” to review your changes, and then click “Apply” to begin formatting the partition on your hard drive.

What can you do with a bootable USB formatting tool?

In addition to formatting your hard drive through BIOS, you can manage your computer's disks and data by performing the following with a bootable USB formatting tool:

• Format HDD or format SSD without operating system
• Convert MBR to GPT without operating system
• Clone hard drive without entering Windows
• Format C drive inside C drive without entering Windows
• Erase hard drive from BIOS

If you have any of the needs listed above, you can now use the featured Partition Master tool to help.

Method 2: Formatting the Hard Drive through BIOS and Command Prompt

• Intended audience: Experienced Windows users
• Supported operating systems: Any Windows operating system
• Tools needed: A bootable USB drive created with the Windows installation media

We know that when the operating system is running normally, you can use the "format fs=ntfs quick" command in Diskpart to format the hard drive directly. However, if the computer fails to start up, or you need to format the hard drive from BIOS without booting into Windows, you will need to use a Windows installation USB drive to perform this task.

Here are the steps to format a hard drive through BIOS using the Command Prompt:

Step 1. Connect the bootable USB drive to your computer, restart your computer, and press F2.

Step 2: Enter your computer's BIOS and set the USB drive as the boot disk. Wait for the Windows installation media to launch.

Step 3: In the next window, click on “Repair your computer.”

Step 4: Go to Troubleshoot and select Advanced options on the Troubleshoot screen.

Step 5: In the Command Prompt, type in the following command to begin formatting the disk volume in your BIOS:

- diskpart - list volume - exit - dir C: (If your system drive is not C:, replace it with D:, E:, F:, and so on until you find the drive containing the operating system.) - format C: /fs:NTFS (Replace C: with the drive letter of the hard drive you want to format.) - Y

Repeat the process to format all existing partitions on the hard drive using the command prompt in the BIOS.

Method 3: Formatting the Hard Drive Through BIOS During Windows Setup

• Applies to: Experienced Windows users
• Supported operating systems: Any Windows operating system
• Required tools: A bootable USB drive created with the Windows installation media

This method is more suitable for users who need to reinstall their computer using a Windows installation media. If you're one of them and need to format the hard drive in BIOS to reinstall the Windows operating system, you can download the Windows ISO and create it on a USB drive first.

Then format the hard drive from the BIOS by following these steps:

First, connect the bootable USB drive to your computer, restart it, and set it to boot from the USB drive.

Step 2: Click on "Install Now" in the installer window.

Step 3: Skip the “Windows product key” and “License terms” screens, and select “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).”

Step 4: Select each existing partition on the target hard drive and click "Format."

Click “OK” to confirm the formatting of the selected hard drive partition.

Repeat the process for every hard drive on your computer.

Note that if you do not want to install Windows on your hard drive, you can stop here after formatting all existing partitions on it in the BIOS as described above.

Don't forget to share this page with other users who might benefit from the information above.

Formatting from the BIOS is complicated; you can make it as easy as 1-2-3.

On this page, we discuss how many people need to format their hard drive from BIOS due to system failure or some unknown reasons.

Formatting through BIOS is a more complicated process, and most Windows novices will need assistance from an expert. In Method 1, we demonstrate the process using a reliable third-party formatting tool – AOMEI Partition Assistant. You can easily format your hard drive in BIOS with a bootable USB created by AOMEI Partition Assistant.

Experienced users are encouraged to try the Command Prompt method mentioned above, which is simpler than the Windows installation process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting Hard Drives from BIOS with UTF-8 Encoding

If you have any doubt about this issue, please refer to the answer below.

**1. How do I wipe a hard drive in BIOS?** Erasing a hard drive directly through BIOS is typically not possible, but you can accomplish this task using your operating system or specialized tools. Follow these steps: 1. **Boot into BIOS:** Restart your computer and press the relevant key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Delete) to enter BIOS settings. 2. **Change boot order:** In BIOS settings, locate the "Boot" or "Startup" options and adjust the boot sequence to prioritize a bootable CD, USB drive, or network boot (if supported for network wiping services). 3. **Insert wiping tool:** Insert a CD or USB drive containing a disk wiping tool like DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) or a Windows installation media. 4. **Reboot:** Save and exit BIOS settings, and your computer will boot from the selected device. 5. **Run the wiping tool:** Follow on-screen instructions to initiate the wiping program. It may offer different wiping options, such as quick wipe or a more secure, standard-compliant overwrite. 6. **Confirm and execute:** Carefully read the warnings and confirm that you want to erase all data from the hard drive. Once started, this process might be irreversible. 7. **Wait for completion:** The wiping process can take anywhere from a few hours to a day, depending on the size of the hard drive and the chosen wiping method. 8. **Exit after completion:** After the wipe is done, restart your computer and remove the wiping tool. You can now set your normal boot device in BIOS and install a new operating system. Please note that these steps are general guidelines, and actual procedures may vary depending on your computer's BIOS interface and available tools. Always back up important files before performing any data erasure.

To wipe a hard drive from BIOS, use the Partition Master WinPE Creator tool to make a bootable USB drive. Then, boot your computer into BIOS and set it to boot from the bootable USB. Once in the Partition Master tool, right-click on your hard drive and select "Wipe Disk" to begin erasing it from BIOS.

How do I format a hard drive completely?

1. First, ensure that you back up all essential data to a secure location. 2. Open Disk Management. 3. Right-click on each partition on the disk and select "Format..." 4. Set the file system format, check "Quick Format," then click "OK" to confirm. 5. Repeat this process until all existing partitions on the hard drive have been formatted.

3. How to format an unbootable hard drive?

There are two ways for you to format an unbootable hard drive. One is to refer to Method 1 recommended on this page and use a bootable USB formatting tool – Partition Master Tool.

Another way is to remove the hard drive from the computer, connect it to a healthy one, and format it through Disk Management.