How to format hard drive without losing it

[jp0789]

Hi! I have a question for win8.1 users how to format a hard drive without losing win8

 

[Jonnyzord]

You can system restore back to the beginning if you have the possibility. If not, you will have to get win 8.1 and put it on a CD/USB and do a fresh installation - if doing so you will need to download the drivers for your computer if you don't have another way to download your drivers after you do the fresh installation.

 

[Lee-m]

You can't. Formatting will wipe everything on the drive.

Just clean reinstall windows after.

 

[USAFRet]

You don't. That's what 'formatting' does. Erase everything.
In some circumstances, you can possibly retrieve some of it. But almost certainly not the whole OS in full running condition.

Why are you looking to do this?