New HDD (SATA II) config for a windows 8.1 pro installation

[The_Alien]

Hi, I'm tad confused primarily due to being a bit thick so hoping that again, the collective genius' on here can help, please.

My HDD has all but died and I have two drives here more than capable of replacing but, I don't know how to prepare the drive (will be done on a vista machine as my win8.1 pro machine isn't functional) so that windows installer doesn't complain about GPT and or MBR issues; it seems that no matter how I format the drive, windows says it can't install on it due to the partition setup.
So, I want to clear the drive of all partitions etc and start from scratch but what do I format it as, can anybody help please?

Many thanks,

Ala.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... Any Windows install disk has the ability to delete all previous Partitions and create new ones... I would suggest using the 8.1 install media to do this... the term is called "clean install" Google youtube videos for how to do this, and where to find the menus in the Windows install screens for this.
Basically remove all Partitions on the drive first then Windows will AUTO create New ones for you, when you click install.
Different MB Bios and OS's have a maximum amount of HD space that can be Formated/Addressed in a single Partition.

 

[The_Alien]

OK so took the USB Stick out and tried again using the DVD and it's installing; can't for the life of me think why this is, just is and can't be bothered to investigate; lesson learned.

Many thanks,

Alien

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... You need your USB stick formated in FAT32 and Made BOOtable to start the install procedure... Your DVD was made Fat32 and BOOTable... BIO's can't read NTFS file systems, you must be Booted into Windows to read NTFS files... Does this apply?