9 Easy Steps to Partition a Hard Drive with the Fdisk+Format Tools

Download Article

An easy-to-follow guide so you can partition a hard drive using the Fdisk and Format Tools

Author Info

Last Updated: April 27, 2023

Download Article

This is the correct way to prepare your new hard drive for use.

Things You Should Know

Put the disc into your computer.
Enter "fdisk" when prompted and press "Yes."
Enter "1" and select the type of the partition you want to create, then restart your computer.

Steps

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

prompt type fdisk then hit enter.

Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

4
To Delete the existing partition, Type 3 and press Enter.
- Select your partition type you want to delete (Primary/Extended/Logical/Non-Dos)
  
  {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4Bullet1.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
- Select shown partition by typing the displayed number of partition and press Enter for confirmation for deleting partition.
  
  {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4Bullet2.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-4Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9b\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9b\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

5
To re-create a new partition, Type 1 and press Enter.
- Select what type of partition you want to create and type related value and press Enter for creating new partition.
  
  {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-5Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-5Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-5Bullet1.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-5Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ab\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ab\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

prompt type fdisk/mbr ( that fdisk your master boot record.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fe\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fe\/Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Fdisk-Tool-and-the-Format-Tool-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

prompt type format c:/s/u and yes you want to erase all data so type "y" when prompted...

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

What do I enter for the volume label?

Community Answer

Whatever you want; it's just the name that your volume will have. For example, if you used "My Volume," you would see it listed as "My Volume" in your PC.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

If you have a NTFS drive, be careful as most DOS boot diskettes so not know about NTFS and can severely damage/ corrupt your disk.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If you drive is FAT32, you will need an updated boot disk from Windows 95/OSR2 or later to be able to see any existing partitions.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Do not enable large disk support of your installing 95, make sure it's fat16.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Things You'll Need

1 boot disk

Log in

9 Easy Steps to Partition a Hard Drive with the Fdisk+Format Tools

Things You Should Know

Steps

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

You Might Also Like

About This Article

Is this article up to date?

About This Article

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories