How To: Partition and Format a New Hard Disk Using Linux

Just installed a new hard disk on your PC, but Windows was unable to detect it?

Step 1 Download Ubuntu

A new hard disk requires that you create a partition table before you can do a format. Download the Ubuntu Desktop CD 10.04LTS 32bit x86 for Intel users.

Tips

• The Live CD won't boot on a faulty hard disk. However, there is an option to create a USB persistent flash drive using the startup disk creator.

Step 2 Boot from CD

Insert the CD into your DVD drive and boot from the CD (you'll need to change your PC's boot order).

Step 3 Try without Installing

You'll be given a selection of options. Choose "Try Ubuntu without Installing."

Tips

• For my Nvdia equipped laptop, I needed to change the CD's boot mode by pressing "F4" and setting it to NOAPIC, then deleting quiet splash.

Step 4 Disk Utility

After it finishes loading, go to System > Administration > Disk utility.

Ubuntu's disk utility will detect it as an unknown volume.

Step 5 Create a Partition Table

Run GParted. Go to System > Administration > GParted (Install this through Synaptic Package Manager).

Also, you can use a GParted Live CD.

Create a partition table.

Step 6 Choose Size

Then create your desired partition size. 

You can manually set the partition size by dragging the arrow on the right side. Then format to NTFS, EXT, FAT 32, etc.

Click "Apply" to proceed with the changes.

Step 7 Install Windows

Now install your Windows.