Format a external hard drive

Are there any free programs that someone can recommend for formatting a external hard drive?

I am going to University soon and need this done.

Also anyone know of any good free encryption programs?

Thanks

 

Right click on the drive in my computer and select format. Just make sure you select the right one, since windows will go ahead with a format even if the OS is on it.

 

TrueCrypt. I don't use it but many others do

 

Sorry, I know I said format but I mean't partition. Typo

Thanks!

 

Control panel> administrative tools>computer management>select disk management from the tree on the left>right click for partition tools.

Again make sure you are selecting the right drive.

 

Gparted.. If that doesn't work for an external drive maybe Windows does. Also, try the free software sticky for others.

Edit: Sniped by liquid!

 

GParted it is nice; It's a liveCD linux environment. It's what I use to create partitions/format/etc.

 

The default _Windows disk management utility will partition an external hard drive; however, you'd probably still be better off with a non-MS utility like gparted. If paying a license fee isn't too big of a deal-killer, there's also Disk Director from Acronis (makers of True Image Home) which I've used often with good results - it's particularly useful for rejiggering existing partitions.

 

I suppose partitioning a external with Windows is in the windows environment, but it just seems different. It's not like it can screw up your system, is it?

 

As long as you make sure you're working on the correct drive, and not on your system drive by mistake, it shouldn't affect your system, even if the external drive gets muffed up.

 

Is there something else like gparted but that doesn't require mounting?

I like truecrypt looks good

Thanks,

 

You can use Eraser. It is basically for burying the data so deep, that the average joe doesn't have a chance of retrieving it.