13

I need to format a drive containing an old install of Ubuntu 10.04, to install Vista (not my idea!) Vista setup apparently refuses to format non-FAT32 or NTFS partitions. However, I can't seem to format it from my live CD (Ubuntu 11.04) at all; I keep getting "device is busy" errors. What is the simplest way to format this drive?

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
23

From a live session start Gparted Partition Editor from System -> Administration:

enter image description here

Choose the drive you need to re-partition or format from the top right. Then select your partition (in this case /dev/sda1). By right click on the partition a menu pops up that lets you choose to Delete or Format this partition.

Partitions need to be unmounted before changing them

In case you install another OS it may be sufficient to just delete all partitions leaving the drive unpartitioned. Partitoning and formatting will then be done by the new OS's installer.

We have to keep in mind that private data on that drive will still be recoverable after deleting or reformatting partitions.

Improve this answer
5
  • I have a lot of partitions to format (about 8), do I have to format them all and can Vista then use them as one?
    – Thomas O
    Jun 1, 2011 at 20:52
  • 1
    If they're NTFS or FAT32 partitions, then yes, Vista can natively use them. If they're anything else you'd need a workaround. The problem with having eight partitions though is that Windows will accept only four primary partitions. I don't know how interchangeable logical partitions are with extended partitions. It's probably best to back-up the data and reformat to Windows native file systems.
    – boehj
    Jun 1, 2011 at 20:56
  • I'm fully aware of information security, but I don't consider it a problem for me as it was only my old school laptop.
    – Thomas O
    Jun 1, 2011 at 21:32
  • It's going to my sister cause she broke her last laptop... how long will this one last I don't know. I upgraded recently to a ThinkPad. Thanks for your concern though. If I was worried about security of data I would do a basic secure shred if there was anything worth having I guess.
    – Thomas O
    Jun 1, 2011 at 21:49
  • 1
    delete partition with dd if=/dev/null of=/$hd ($hd=[/hda1|/sda1|...)] or if you're more paranoid if=/dev/random or even urandom
    – mbx
    Jun 2, 2011 at 2:55
0

The simplest way, I would argue, is to put the Windows Vista DVD in the drive and start the installation process.

The Windows Vista DVD should be capable of formatting the disk to the Windows native partition(s) (NTFS or FAT32) you require for Windows installation.

This will cut out one step in the process.

Is that an option for you? Or do you have some special need to use a Linux Live CD?

Remember to first back-up any valuable data on partitions you plan to nuke.

Improve this answer
2
  • I tried this. Vista refuses to format it! Ugh.
    – Thomas O
    Jun 1, 2011 at 21:32
  • 1
    Damn. OK, another option that I like is to use a GParted Live CD. If this thing can't delete a partition table then the next step is to get something like, for example, the Western Digital Diagnostics disk to write 0's to the whole disk. NB: This can also be achieved using the dd command in a terminal.
    – boehj
    Jun 1, 2011 at 23:00

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .