How To Format C Drive

To "format C" means to format the C drive, or the primary partition that Windows or your other operating system is installed on. When you format C, you erase the operating system and other information on the C drive.

However, it's not a straightforward process to format C. You can't format the C drive like you can format another drive in Windows because you're within Windows when you perform the format. To format C from within Windows would be like lifting a chair in the air while sitting on it - you can't do it.

The solution is to format C from outside of Windows, meaning you need a way to format a drive from somewhere other than your Windows installation. The easiest way to do this is to boot to an operating system (with formatting abilities) from a CD/DVD/BD drive, flash drive, or floppy drive.

This might all sound very complicated but it's actually quite easy to format C. Below are 5 completely free ways to format your C drive:

1.Format C From a Windows Setup Disc

2. Format C From a System Repair Disc

3. Format C From Recovery Console

4. Format C From a Free Diagnostic & Repair Tool

5. Wipe the Drive Clean With Data Destruction Software