Problems getting rid of NTFS partition on HDD

**stek** · 5 October 2015, 20:45

Cob it in the bin and buy another.

**lilelvis2000** · 5 October 2015, 20:53

What do you need FAT32 for?

Anyway, I think there are some Live versions of Linux that can low level format so have a look at that.

But first I think you need a Diagnostics disk to test the drive to see if it works anymore. Did a quick Google..this was at the top. HDDScan but plenty to choose from.

**stek** · 5 October 2015, 21:13

Try a gparted bootable CD and see what you can do to blat it.

Knoppix is a good one.

**yasockie** · 7 October 2015, 16:00

Originally posted by Bwana View Post

I have an old IDE HDD that had a Windows XP

Is this a thread from 2015? Windows XP is full of security holes, the only way you can still run it is airgapped from the Internet.
Also an old IDE HDD must have developed some bad sectors over the years - it's really advisable to start with a cheap, fresh computer, like Intel Compute stick that has no moving parts.
But if you must, use a linux distro on a bootable floppy or a CD and use it's partitioning tool.
Also Windows installation CD has a partition program built in so you could just do it there...
Finally why are you trying to get rid of NTFS and get FAT, NTFS is a better filesystem.

**Bwana** · 7 October 2015, 17:47

**Yonmons** · 13 October 2015, 12:23

I would be marking that drive "Suspect" and wary of the importance of the data I was putting on it

Problems getting rid of NTFS partition on HDD