How to Format a Windows Server Hard Drive

Updated By

Linda 

Last Updated on April 22, 2024

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You may need to know how to format a Windows Server hard drive in the event of a new drive, a failed drive, or a computer virus attack. Formatting is also necessary if you need to change the file system of the drive.

For instance, formatting a FAT32 drive to NTFS can provide greater storage space for larger files and enhanced data security. Conversely, you might opt to format NTFS to FAT32, as the latter offers higher mobility and compatibility.

In either case, knowing how to format a Windows Server hard drive is crucial. We've picked two methods that we think will be helpful for you. Keep reading to see which one suits you best.

Method 1: Formatting a Hard Drive using Windows Server Disk Management Step 1: Access Windows Server Disk Management First, get into Windows Server Disk Management: 1. Right-click "My Computer" or "This PC" and choose "Manage." 2. In the "Computer Management" window that pops up, locate and click on "Disk Management." Step 2: Select the Hard Drive to Format Choose the hard drive you want to format: 1. In the Disk Management interface, find the hard drive you need to format. 2. Make sure you've selected the correct drive to avoid accidental formatting. Step 3: Initialize the Disk Initialize the disk: 1. Right-click the uninitiated disk and select "Initialize Disk." 2. In the dialog box, choose an appropriate partition style (MBR or GPT), then click "OK." Step 4: Create a New Partition Create a new partition: 1. Right-click on the initialized disk and choose "New Simple Volume." 2. Follow the wizard's prompts to set the partition size, drive letter, and file system format (like NTFS). 3. Review your settings, then click "Finish" to create the partition. Step 5: Format the Partition Format the partition: 1. Locate the newly created partition, right-click it, and select "Format." 2. In the formatting options, confirm the file system and allocation unit size (usually, you can leave these as default). 3. Check "Quick Format" to speed up the process (note: this will delete all data). 4. Click "OK" to start formatting. Once formatting is complete, the hard drive will be ready for use. Make sure to back up important data beforehand, as this process will erase all information on the drive.

For those who want to know how to format a Windows Server hard drive, using the Windows Server Disk Management is another easier way. Here, Partition Master Enterprise is the preferred application.

This tool is easier to use than the complicated DiskPart command, and the formatting process only takes a few steps.

How to Format Hard Drive on Windows Server with Partition Master Enterprise

The operation to format hard drive on Windows Server is quite simple with the Partition Master software tool.

Step 1. Launch the program after you've downloaded it in its entirety. Find the hard drive partition that you want to format, right-click on it, and select the Format option.

A new window will pop up. Select the correct file system label and size for your partition. The file system of your partition should be NTFS, FAT32, EXT2, or EXT4. A warning message will appear. Click “OK” to proceed with the formatting.

Step 3: In the top-left corner of the window, click the Execute button to confirm the changes. Then click Apply to proceed with the formatting.

Other features of Partition Master Enterprise Edition include:

• Resize System Drive, Merge or Split Partitions

Users unfamiliar with formatting Windows server disks can easily use the Partition Master tool to wipe everything from the hard drive. The software also lets you delete partitions or the entire disk.

• Clone disk to migrate OS to HDD/SSD

Easily set up a new hard drive with the simple cloning process of Partition Master. Avoid the hassle of reinstalling and configuring Windows. You can also clone HDD/SSD partitions.

Converting from MBR to GPT, or vice versa, won't result in data loss.

In addition, Partition Master Enterprise can also serve as an MBR-to-GPT/GPT-to-MBR converter. Most interestingly, this process does not result in any data loss.

• Resize disks and create volumes quickly with a single click

You can resize multiple partitions at will, easily and effortlessly.

Method 2: Format a Hard Drive in Windows Server Using the Command Prompt

DiskPart is a free and powerful command-line disk formatter that can effectively solve computer problems. It's very flexible, which is why it can be used on Windows, Mac, and even Linux operating systems. DiskPart command line also supports FAT16, FAT32, EXT2, EXT3, EXT4, and NTFS file systems. However, this is a rigid method that requires some experience. Click here to see how to check total hard disk size in Windows 10.

But you shouldn't be scared. It's all about understanding the DiskPart formatting process. Follow the guidelines below to learn how to format a Windows Server hard drive from the Command Prompt.

Step 1: Locate the Windows search bar, type "Command Prompt," and right-click on the application icon. Select "Run as administrator."

Step 2: Type “diskpart” and press Enter. You should see something like this:

Step 3: Type “list disk” and press Enter. This will display a list of all available disks. Find and select the disk you want to format. In this example, we're formatting Disk 0, so we type “select disk 0,” and the command prompt replies with a message like the following:

Step 4: Press the Enter key to type “list volume”.

5. Type "select volume [x]" and press Enter, where [x] is the number of the partition you want to format.

Type in “format fs=ntfs quick” and press Enter to begin the quick format. Typing only “format” will result in a full format of the drive, which is why you must be very careful when using this method.

<Step 7> Wait for the format to complete successfully, and then close the DiskPart command prompt.

Final Thoughts

After reading this guide, you should know how to format a Windows Server hard drive. We've discussed two methods: using the DiskPart command-line tool and using the recommended Partition Master Enterprise Edition software.

Both methods are equally useful and effective. However, the disk management utility is less prone to mistakes than the command-line option. Apart from formatting the hard drive, it also serves as a cloning tool and has other uses, as mentioned above.

Are you considering getting the Partition Master Enterprise software? Hesitate no more and visit the product page for more details. You can also direct your inquiries about the tool to their support page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Formatting a Windows Server in UTF-8 Encoding 1. 什么是UTF-8编码？ UTF-8是一种广泛使用的Unicode字符编码，能够表示世界上几乎所有的字符集。它以一种可变长度的方式存储字符，从1到4个字节不等。 2. 为什么需要在Windows服务器上使用UTF-8编码？ UTF-8编码具有广泛的兼容性和跨平台性，可以确保来自不同语言和地区的用户都能正确地查看和处理文本数据。这对于多语言网站、全球化应用或需要处理多种语言数据的服务器尤其重要。 3. 如何在Windows服务器上设置UTF-8编码？ 要设置Windows服务器使用UTF-8编码，通常需要在IIS（Internet Information Services）中配置Web应用程序的默认编码。打开IIS管理器，找到相应的站点，选择“高级设置”，在"文档"部分添加新的默认内容类型，如“text/html; charset=UTF-8”。 4. 格式化Windows服务器会改变文件系统的编码吗？ 格式化Windows服务器主要涉及清理磁盘空间并重新安装操作系统，通常不会直接影响文件系统的编码。然而，如果你在安装过程中选择了不同的区域设置，可能会影响到默认的文件系统编码。 5. 格式化服务器后如何确保新数据以UTF-8编码存储？ 在格式化后，确保所有新建的文本文件、数据库和应用程序都配置为使用UTF-8编码。对于数据库，如SQL Server，可以在创建数据库时指定UTF-8编码，或者在连接字符串中指定字符集。 6. 格式化服务器会影响现有的UTF-8编码数据吗？ 如果你在格式化前没有备份数据，那么所有数据都将丢失，无论它们是以何种编码存储的。在格式化之前，确保备份所有重要数据，并在恢复时使用相同的或兼容的编码。 7. 格式化服务器后如何迁移UTF-8编码的数据？ 迁移UTF-8编码数据时，确保目标环境支持UTF-8。将备份文件复制到新服务器，然后使用与原始系统相同的应用程序或工具来读取和处理这些文件，以保持正确的编码。 8. 是否可以将已存在的非UTF-8编码转换为UTF-8？ 是的，你可以使用各种文本编辑器或转换工具将非UTF-8编码的文件转换为UTF-8。例如，Notepad++、Sublime Text等编辑器提供了转换编码的功能。对于大量数据，可能需要编写脚本或使用专门的转换软件。 9. 格式化服务器对性能有影响吗？ 格式化本身不会显著影响服务器性能，但安装新的操作系统和应用可能需要一些时间。一旦设置完成，服务器性能取决于硬件配置和优化程度。 10. 如何定期备份以防止数据丢失？ 使用计划任务或自动化备份工具定期备份服务器数据，包括数据库、配置文件和其他重要文件。确保备份文件存储在安全的位置，并测试恢复过程以验证其完整性。

Some of you might have more specific questions about how to format or when to format a Windows Server hard drive. You can find the right answer by referring to the questions listed below:

1. How to format Server 2016? To format Server 2016, follow these steps: 1. **Boot from Installation Media**: First, insert the Server 2016 installation DVD or USB drive into your server and restart it. During the boot process, press F12, F10, F2, or Delete to enter the Boot Menu and select to boot from the installation media. 2. **Choose Language and Settings**: When the setup interface appears, select your language, time, and currency formats, then click "Next." 3. **Select Installation Type**: On the "Install Type" screen, do not choose "Upgrade." Instead, opt for "Custom: Advanced options for experienced users." 4. **Select the Disk**: In the "Drive Options (Advanced)" screen, you'll see a list of your server's hard drives. Choose the disk you want to format. If it's already partitioned, you may need to delete all partitions (select one, then click "Delete Volume," repeat if necessary). 5. **Create New Partition**: Click "New" to create a new partition. You can accept the default size or adjust it as needed, then click "Apply." 6. **Format the Drive**: The new partition should be selected. Confirm and click "Format." This will format the selected hard drive and apply the file system (usually NTFS). 7. **Start the Installation Process**: After formatting, click "Next" to begin the installation process. Follow on-screen instructions, including entering the product key, accepting the license agreement, and setting an administrator password. 8. **Wait for Installation Completion**: The installation might take some time, during which the server will restart multiple times. Be patient until the process completes. 9. **Configure the Server**: Lastly, after the installation finishes, you'll need to perform basic server configuration, such as network settings and user accounts. Please note that formatting will erase all data on the hard drive, so ensure you back up important information beforehand.

In Windows Server 2016, open Disk Management, right-click on a partition, and select "Format." Click "OK" to confirm.

Repeat these steps for all existing partitions on Server 2016.

**2. How do I wipe everything from Windows Server?**

To wipe out everything on Windows Server, you can turn to a reliable server disk eraser solution or hard drive eraser software. AME Partition Master Server and its Wipe Disk feature can be of help.

Before beginning the following steps, ensure that you back up all important server data.

• Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the server hard drive. • Select "Wipe Hard Drive". • Set the number of times you want to wipe the server hard drive. • Click "OK".

3. How do I completely format a hard drive?

To completely format a hard drive, you can use the CMD command prompt to perform the task.

1. Open the Command Prompt and type **diskpart**, then press Enter. 2. Type **list disk**, then press Enter. 3. Type **select disk #**, then press Enter. (Replace # with the number of the hard drive you want to format.) 4. Type **clean**, then press Enter.