"How to Format Hard Drive from BIOS in Windows 10"

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Cici 

Updated on April 22, 2024

Formatting the hard drive will resolve most hard disk-related errors. However, there may be instances when you can't format the hard disk using Windows' built-in tools. In such cases, the only option is to enter the Win-PE environment via BIOS.

Therefore, can we format the hard drive from BIOS? The tools will provide the answer to this question and additional details on how to format the hard drive via BIOS in Windows 10. Continue reading to acquire more knowledge about the formatting process.

Can I Format Hard Drive from BIOS in Windows 10?

Can I format the hard drive from BIOS? The answer is No! We cannot format any drive or partition directly from the BIOS setup.

The BIOS is an essential component of your computer, functioning much like a gatekeeper for your system. When you power on your computer, the BIOS checks if all the components can operate seamlessly. It detects hard disk drives and facilitates the booting process for the operating system you have installed. Once booted, the operating system will enable you to format additional hard disks.

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Therefore, it's not the BIOS that lets you format the hard drive from BIOS, but the operating system you've installed. If you wish to format the hard drive from BIOS in Windows 10, you need to follow this quick guide:

• Change the BIOS settings
• Boot your Windows 10 PC from a bootable CD/DVD or USB flash drive
• Format the hard disk using a professional tool

Next, we'll walk you through a detailed scenario of how to format a hard drive from BIOS in Windows 10. If you find this guide helpful, please feel free to share it with others who might need it.

How to Format Hard Drive from BIOS in Windows 10?

This section will provide three methods to format the hard drive from BIOS. Regardless of which approach you choose, the crucial step is to prepare a bootable Windows installation drive. Here's a brief summary of the three options:

A third-party formatting tool – such as Partition Master – offers a much faster and simpler solution that lets you format the hard drive from the BIOS without a CD/DVD. Options 2 and 3, however, require you to use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to create the installation media.

Regardless of your choice, you can find a comprehensive guide in this article:

Method 1: Format Hard Drive from BIOS using Partition Master Tool Step 1: Boot into BIOS - Restart your computer and press the designated key (usually F2, F10, DELETE, or ESC) to enter the BIOS setup during the startup process. Step 2: Access the Boot Menu - In the BIOS settings, locate and navigate to the Boot menu, which usually contains options related to boot order and device priority. Step 3: Enable USB Boot - If you plan to use Partition Master from a USB drive, ensure that USB boot is enabled in the boot options. Move it to the top of the boot order list. Step 4: Insert Partition Master Bootable Media - Insert the Partition Master bootable USB drive or CD/DVD into your computer. Step 5: Save Changes and Exit - Save the changes made in BIOS (usually by pressing F10 and confirming with 'Yes') and allow your computer to restart. Step 6: Boot from Partition Master - Your computer should now boot from the Partition Master media. Follow the on-screen instructions to launch the tool. Step 7: Select the Hard Drive to Format - In Partition Master, locate the hard drive you want to format and select it. Step 8: Format the Drive - Choose the "Format" option for the selected hard drive. You may also choose the file system (e.g., NTFS, FAT32, exFAT) and allocation unit size. Step 9: Confirm the Action - A warning will appear, reminding you that formatting will erase all data. Confirm your decision to proceed with the format. Step 10: Wait for Formatting to Complete - The formatting process will begin. This may take some time depending on the drive's size. Step 11: Exit and Reboot - Once the formatting is finished, exit Partition Master and let your computer reboot. Now, your hard drive should be formatted. Note: This method assumes you have already created a bootable Partition Master USB or CD/DVD using the software's built-in utility or a third-party tool like Rufus.

As a versatile hard disk management tool, tools Partition Master allows you to create bootable USBs directly and offers a simpler solution to format hard drives. There's no need to manually locate the system partition; you don't need to enter the Win-PE environment to format it quickly.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to format the hard drive from BIOS in Windows 10 using this powerful tool:

Guide 1. Create a Bootable USB

Step 1. To create a bootable disk of AOMEI Partition Assistant, you should prepare a storage media, such as a USB drive, flash drive, or CD/DVD disc. Then, connect it to your computer properly.

Step 2. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, and locate the “Bootable Media” feature on the left. Click on it.

Step 3. When the drive is available, you can select USB or CD/DVD. However, if you don't have a storage device on hand, you can also save the ISO file to a local drive and burn it to a storage medium later. After making your choice, click "Create" to begin.

Check the Warning message and click "Yes".

Step 4. When the process is complete, a pop-up window will ask you if you want to restart your computer from the bootable USB.

1.
• Reboot Now: This means you wish to restart the current computer and enter the Bootable Media tool to manage your disk partitions without an operating system.
2.
• Done: This indicates that you do not want to restart the current PC, but instead intend to use the bootable USB drive on a different computer.

Important: To use the bootable disk on a new PC, restart the target computer and press F2/F8/DEL to enter BIOS, then set the USB bootable disk as the first boot device.

Just be patient, the computer will automatically boot from the USB boot media and launch into the WinPE tool desktop.

Guide 2: Format Hard Drive from BIOS

After creating the bootable drive, you need to set it up as a boot disk on your Windows 10 computer: restart your computer and press F2/Del to enter the BIOS under the Boot options. Then, reboot your computer again and go to the Tools Partition Master to format it.

Step 1. Run AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the hard drive partition you want to format and choose “Format”.

Step 2. In the new window, set the Partition label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and Cluster size for the partition to be formatted, then click "OK".

Format Hard Drive Partition - Step 2

Step 3. A warning window will appear; click "Yes" to proceed.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button to review the changes, and then click "Apply" to begin formatting the partition on your hard drive.

As a robust utility, Partition Master offers additional functions like wiping, deleting, or managing hard disk partitions. If you have further requirements, explore the following topics to find specific guidance:

• Low level format SD card
• Change block size from 4K to 64K
• Partition Western Digital Hard Drive

Method 2: Format Hard Drive from BIOS using Command Prompt This method involves accessing the BIOS and using the Command Prompt to format the hard drive. Follow these steps: 1. **Restart your computer and enter BIOS**: Restart your PC and press the key indicated on the screen (usually F2, F10, DELETE, or ESC) to enter the BIOS setup. 2. **Change Boot Order**: Locate the "Boot" or "Startup" menu in BIOS and set your computer to boot from a USB or CD/DVD with a Windows installation media. 3. **Save and Exit**: Save the changes and exit the BIOS, which will prompt your computer to boot from the selected media. 4. **Start the Windows Setup**: Follow the on-screen instructions until you reach the "Install now" screen. 5. **Choose your preferences**: Select your preferred language, time, and currency formats, then click "Next." 6. **Accept the license terms**: Read and accept the license terms, then click "Next." 7. **Custom Install**: Choose the "Custom (advanced)" installation option. 8. **Select the hard drive**: In the list of available drives, select the one you want to format and click "Drive options (advanced)." 9. **Format the hard drive**: Click "Format" and confirm the action when prompted. The formatting process will begin. 10. **Wait for the process to complete**: Formatting may take some time, so be patient. 11. **Install Windows**: Once the formatting is done, click "Next," and proceed with the Windows installation. 12. **Reboot and remove installation media**: After the installation is complete, reboot your computer and remove the USB or CD/DVD. Remember that formatting will erase all data on the hard drive, so ensure you have backups of any important files before proceeding.

Rely on Windows 10 installation media. You can format the hard drive in Windows 10 using the Command Prompt. However, this method is more complex and requires a clear understanding of command parameters, as well as the need to locate the system partition. If you are proficient in computer operations, you can follow these steps:

Step 1. Connect the bootable USB to the Windows PC and restart.

Step 2. Enter BIOS setup. Different computers will have assigned keys, such as F2, F8, F10, F11, DEL, ESC, etc.

Step 3. In BIOS, go to the Boot option to change the boot order and set the Windows installation drive as the boot drive.

Step 4. Boot your computer from the installation media and set the language, time, format, etc.

Step 5. In the next screen, click on Repair your computer in the bottom left corner.

"Repair your computer"

Step 6. Locate Troubleshoot > Command Prompt.

Step 7. Enter the commands in sequence at the command prompt:

Here are the translations of the provided phrases into English: 1. diskpart 2. list volume 3. exit 4. dir C: 5. format C: /fs: NTFS 6. Y These are commands typically used in a command-line interface, such as Windows Command Prompt: 1. `diskpart` - starts the DiskPart utility for managing disks and volumes. 2. `list volume` - displays a list of all available volumes on the system. 3. `exit` - quits the current command prompt or utility. 4. `dir C:` - lists the files and directories in the root of drive C:. 5. `format C: /fs:NTFS` - formats the C: drive with the NTFS file system. 6. `Y` - when prompted to confirm an action, like formatting a drive, 'Y' signifies agreement or confirmation.

Method 3: Format Hard Drive from BIOS During Windows Installation During the process of installing Windows, you can also format your hard drive through the BIOS. Follow these steps: 1. Insert your Windows installation media (DVD or USB) into your computer and restart it. 2. Boot from the installation media by entering the BIOS setup. To access BIOS, typically press `F2`, `F10`, `Delete`, or `Esc` immediately after turning on your computer (the key may vary depending on the manufacturer). 3. In the BIOS menu, find the boot order settings and move your installation media to the top of the list so that your computer boots from it first. 4. Save the changes and exit the BIOS. Your computer should now boot from the installation media. 5. Choose your language preferences and click **Next**. 6. Click on **Install Now**. 7. On the "Select the operating system to install" screen, click on the hard drive you want to format and then click on **Drive options (advanced)**. 8. Click on **Format**. A warning will appear, informing you that all data on the selected drive will be erased. Confirm the action if you are sure you want to proceed. 9. Wait for the formatting process to complete. This may take a few minutes. 10. After formatting, select the formatted drive and click **Next** to continue with the Windows installation. Remember that formatting will erase all data on the hard drive, so ensure you have backed up any important files before proceeding.

Using a Windows installation media, you can also format the hard disk during the Windows installation process. However, you'll need to set the Windows 10 installation media as the boot drive before beginning. Here are the detailed step-by-step instructions: 1. **Create Windows 10 Installation Media**: First, download the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft's official website and create a bootable USB or DVD using software like Rufus or the built-in Windows Media Creation Tool. 2. **Boot from Installation Media**: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing the relevant key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Del, depending on your system). Navigate to the Boot options and set the USB or DVD as the primary boot device. 3. **Start Installation**: Save changes and exit the BIOS, your computer will now boot from the installation media. Follow the on-screen prompts until you reach the "Install Now" screen. 4. **Choose Installation Type**: On the "Which type of installation do you want?" screen, select "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)". 5. **Format Hard Disk**: In the next screen, you'll see a list of available drives. Select the hard disk you want to format and click on "New" to create a new partition. If prompted, confirm the deletion of existing partitions by clicking "Delete" and then "OK". This will format the entire hard disk. 6. **Partitioning and Formatting**: Depending on your needs, you can choose to create multiple partitions or keep it as one large partition. After making your selections, click "Next" to proceed with the installation. 7. **Follow the Wizard**: Continue following the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process, including selecting your region, language preferences, and creating a user account. 8. **Finish Setup**: Once the installation is finished, remove the installation media, and restart your computer. It will now boot into the freshly installed Windows 10 without any previous data on the formatted hard disk. Remember that formatting a hard drive will erase all data, so ensure you have backups of important files before proceeding.

Step 1. Follow steps 1-3 in Option 2 to choose the USB as the boot drive in the BIOS setup.

Step 2. Select "Install now" on the pop-up screen.

Step 3. Enter the Windows product key and accept the license terms.

Step 4. Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

Step 5. On the next screen, select the partitions and drives to be formatted, then click the Format button at the bottom and click Next.

Step 6. Click OK in the pop-up reminder window.

Click OK.

Why Format Hard Drive from BIOS in Windows 10?

Here are three methods to format the hard drive from BIOS in Windows 10. People might opt for this approach due to various reasons. Here's a typical scenario:

Aside from removing personal data from the computer, there are several other reasons and scenarios that may prompt users to format the hard drive from BIOS in Windows 10:

1. Formatting the system partition or disk: Windows 10 computers are unable to format drives containing operating systems. 2. When reinstalling the operating system: The C partition cannot be formatted when the computer starts up normally. 3. When the computer fails to boot: Computer failure to boot can result from hard disk issues or attempting to format the hard disk on a non-bootable computer. 4. There is an error in the system drive: This can disrupt the operating system's ability to boot. Formatting the drive might be necessary to rectify the problem.

Regardless of the reason for wanting to format the drive from BIOS, you can refer to the options outlined in this article. However, be aware that formatting will delete all data, so it's crucial to back up important information to a secure location beforehand.

Conclusion

Do you know how to format the hard drive from BIOS in Windows 10? On this page, we introduced three methods to accomplish the task. To save time and effort, we highly recommend using the tool Partition Master to format any hard drives from BIOS.

If you're familiar with computer operations, you can also use Windows installation media to enter the Win-PE environment, and then format the hard drive using Command Prompt or during the Windows installation process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting Hard Drive from BIOS in Windows 10

This section offers some additional questions and answers about formatting hard drives. Continue reading if you're interested.

1. How to format the hard drive from BIOS without using a CD/DVD?

If you have a CD/DVD, you can create a System Repair Disc in Windows and subsequently format the drive from the BIOS. If you don't possess a CD/DVD, you'll need to utilize a third-party utility to create a bootable USB drive and then alter the settings in the BIOS.

Next, you can go ahead and format the drive using the command prompt or a third-party tool, just like it's explained in the article.

You cannot format the SSD from the BIOS. You can only enter the Win-PE environment by changing the boot order in the BIOS. Afterwards, you can format the SSD through the Windows Setup Wizard or a command prompt within that environment.

3. How to format the hard drive from BIOS in Windows 11?

The process for formatting a drive in Windows 11 is identical to the one outlined in this article for Windows 10. You can follow the steps described here. Here's a brief overview: 1. Connect the drive you want to format to your Windows 11 computer. 2. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. 3. Click on "System" in the left panel. 4. In the right panel, scroll down and click on "Storage". 5. Under "Storage Sense" or "Manage Disks and Volumes," click on "Manage spaces" or "Disk Management." 6. In the Disk Management window, locate the drive you want to format. 7. Right-click on the drive and select "Format." 8. A Format dialog box will appear. Choose the file system (e.g., NTFS, FAT32, exFAT) and allocation unit size. 9. Check the "Quick Format" option if the drive doesn't contain important data. 10. Click "OK" to start the formatting process. The drive will be formatted, and all data will be erased. Remember to backup any important data before formatting, as the process permanently deletes all files on the selected drive.

• Create a Bootable USB or Windows 11 Installation Media
• Modify the boot configuration in BIOS
• Reboot the computer to the Command Prompt or Windows installation media
• Format the drive