I took my old 400GB hard drive out of my previous PC and installed into my new PC with the intention of using for music, video and picture storage. the trouble is it still has the old XP OS on it with numerous apps and file directories.

I've cleaned it up as much as possible and backed up all the data I want to keep, but I just can't seem to wipe the disk using Vista.

I looked at the other thread about deleting data and I've tried the following apps,

Stellar Wipe - won't work with Vista

Cyberscrub - did a good job of cleaning unused space but wouldn't totally erase disk.

Eraser 4.85 - doesn't seem to work at all.

DBAN - automatically detects and erases all drives in the system which I don't want to do. I just want to erase the complimentary drive.

Help!

Format it

Go to My Computer

Select drive / partition (s) - right click - select Format

I've tried that as well and it comes up with an error message saying

"Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs that are using this drive, and make sure that no window is displaying the contents of the drive. then try formatting again."

It says that the drive is in use but I can't seem to find out how.

Possibly try Task Manager - killing off any other processes (that you know are safe to terminate - including Anti-Virus Anti-Spyware programs) and then try again.

A good program (Freeware) which can show tons of info (including Program Publisher info) is Process Explorer for Windows v10.21

Download link

http://download.sysinternals.com/Files/ProcessExplorer.zip

Allows you to kill / terminate processes just as with task Manager - but gives tons more info which is why it has just been adopted by Microsoft

firebomb it, that will get rid of all the info in one easy step

firebomb it, that will get rid of all the info in one easy step

Do you mean literally or is there an app called firebomb?:confused:

Read this if it is of use - to use the Disk Management

Format a second hard drive in Vista

I installed a second hard drive (500 GB WD Caaviar SE 16 - WD5000AAKS) in Vista Premium Home - and encountered a similar problem. Western Digital did not have their "Data Lifeguard Tools" working in Vista. I was able to "Stumble" on the solution:

Click on the start button; right click on "computer" (which is in the right panel of the pop-up.) Click on manage. click on disk management. right click on the new drive, click on format. It worked for me.

Though TBH - I think it will just do the same as I suggested

The old drive (I take it) still has Windows directory, pagefile.sys etc on it.

Are you able to right click on these items and under Properties untick the Read Only attributes and then try deleting them ?

i was on about soaking it in petrol and throwing a match at it

Roy,

Just thought.

I don't use Vista but might be that System Restore is blocking the Format.

Can you turn off System Restore ? You should, from what I see (i.e. as in XP), be able to disable it for selected drives.

Then try.

I've been reading some of the stuff on this site - looks as though info should be in here somewhere (but not found it yet :( )

WINDOWS VISTA Boot Problems

I know it says Vista Boot Problems but has whole host of other subdirectories etc

I'm gonna have another go tomorrow when the red wine's worn off. Thanks though!

I'll get some petrol just incase, cheers Benjwaldo!

I've just redited last post - so check it again (tomorrow) about selective turning off of System Restore.

Roy, in Vista, you can do it via computer management.

Right click on my computer, go to manage. In the tree on the left, click on Disk Management under the Storage section.

It will take a second or two for the window on the right to update. Then find the "old" disk on the right. it should still have the drive letter shown so you know you're selecting the right one

Right click on it and select delete volume. Voil

Roy, in Vista, you can do it via computer management.

Right click on my computer, go to manage. In the tree on the left, click on Disk Management under the Storage section.

It will take a second or two for the window on the right to update. Then find the "old" disk on the right. it should still have the drive letter shown so you know you're selecting the right one

Right click on it and select delete volume. Voil

Maybe this :-

How to work with partitions in Windows Vista / XP when Disk Management doesn't work at Vista Rewired

Maybe this :-

How to work with partitions in Windows Vista / XP when Disk Management doesn't work at Vista Rewired

Bookmarked that page and will investigate..... cheers