How do i format the entire hdd including both partitions?

[blackns]

I have a dual boot system but one windows installation is corrupt and won't boot up. I installed vista a while back on another partition and everything worked fine but now i just want to get back to a clean install and can't seem to figure out how to delete my partitions. My corrupt xp install is on my d drive and my current vista is on c. Problem is xp still has the "active" partition moniker and when i go in the the computer management console it won't allow me to delete it. It states "the attempted operation cannot be completed. This operation is not valid on volumes containing system partition, boot partition, or page files." So i then wen't into the command prompt and made my d inactive but still can't delete it. Is there a program or an fdisk command i can input to just delete everything on my pc that isn't too much of a hassle?

 

[4Ryan6]

I have a dual boot system but one windows installation is corrupt and won't boot up. I installed vista a while back on another partition and everything worked fine but now i just want to get back to a clean install and can't seem to figure out how to delete my partitions. My corrupt xp install is on my d drive and my current vista is on c. Problem is xp still has the "active" partition moniker and when i go in the the computer management console it won't allow me to delete it. It states "the attempted operation cannot be completed. This operation is not valid on volumes containing system partition, boot partition, or page files." So i then wen't into the command prompt and made my d inactive but still can't delete it. Is there a program or an fdisk command i can input to just delete everything on my pc that isn't too much of a hassle?

If you really want a completely clean HDD, just download a diagnostic disk utility from your HDD manufacturers website, and run a drive wipe program, to completely clear the HDD of all past data, boot records etc.

The programs have various names, such as Low Level Format, Drive Wipe, Zero Fill, Etc. but all do the same thing, they completely write over the entire HDD, basically making it the way it was when it came from the manufacturer.

 

[blackns]

thanks. my hdd manufacturer had only the diskette's available so i went online and found a program called Dariks boot and nuke and burned the iso to a cd and booted to it and wallah! Drive was completely deleted. Thanks alot