Windows 7: won't let me reformat

[Dunehunter]

Hey guys, just got my second new HD and re-installed Windows 7, but I'm having some issues.



As you can see, I've got three HDs: the 150gb Raptor is meant for the OS/some games, the 500gb is meant for the rest of my games/assorted applications and the 1TB one for files. However, when I try to reformat the 500gb one, it won't let me...any suggestions as to how I can fix this? I've got some knowledge about computers, but it isn't exactly in-depth.

[Deadfast]

What exactly do you mean by it won't let you?

I can see a problem with the fact that for some reason your boot loader is installed on the 500GB HDD.

[Dunehunter]

Yeah, that appears to be the issue, as it won't boot when I unplug everything but the 150gb...how do I fix this?

[Deadfast]

Well, to be honest this is a pretty f-ed up situation.

I do know how to install the boot loader on the correct HDD (fixboot), but I have no idea how to get it off the 500GB one.

[Dunehunter]

Hm, alright...is it such an a-typical situation then? I simply installed Windows 7 on a new HD

Though, I did do it using daemontools.

[dominator200]

try using gparted its software that boots up on startup and allows u to set wat eva needs u have for ur hard drives shirk make them bootable all sorts hope this helps

[Mr.Hyde]

I was waiting for someone to post an absolute solution seeing as the problem doesn't seem that hard to fix. butt.....

have you tried the format N: in CMD?

[Deadfast]

His problem is the stupid Windows boot loader which for some reason installed on his data drive instead of the one where the system is.

There is only one way to get rid of it I can think of - use Linux's zero fill. This will rewrite whatever range you specify with zeros (that includes boot loader section and the partition table). This is obviously a bit drastic (and something I wouldn't want to explain over internet forums) so I'm just hoping somebody will have a better idea.

[Mr.Hyde]

Restoring Windows Boot Loader Manually | Knowledge Base

[Deadfast]

That won't get him rid of the boot loader from the data drive...

[xDownSetx]

I don't know if you've already fixed the issue or not, but when you install windows it automatically installs the boot loader on the hard drive set as the 1st boot device in the bios.

You need to install the boot loader on the raptor then set it as the 1st boot device. It's almost impossible to erase the mbr on a HD but you can format the hard drive once windows is no longer booting from it.

Having a loader written to the mbr is just something you live with, no big deal really. 7 just wont let you format it because windows will no longer boot.

[General_J0k3r]

if it's just a 500gb drive get the bootloader onto the raptor, backup ur files from the 500gb drive and format it completely including partition table and such.