However, only a few people know how to get the job done correctly. Reformat or wipe a hard drive to erase data, such as restoring the full capacity of a disk.Format a hard drive for a clean installation of the Windows system.Format to change a hard drive file system for some specific purposes.Here is a list of reasons or let's call it benefits that explains why people intend to format their hard drives, external hard drives, USB or SD, etc., storage devices: People might need to format a hard drive or an external hard drive in Windows 11/10 for various reasons. Whether you are using Windows 11/10 or old Windows 7, check out how to format a hard drive or an external hard drive on your own now. PAGE CONTENT: How to Format a New Hard Drive in Windows 11/10 How to Format an Internal/External Hard Drive in Windows 11/10 How to Reformat or Wipe a Hard Drive in Windows 11/10 How to Recover Formatted Hard Drive Data without Backups Format Hard Drive FAQsįormatting is an essential step before you start using a new hard drive, an internal or external hard drive on Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista.