DiskPart is a command-line tool that allows you to manage your hard drives. You can use it to create, delete, and format partitions. You can also use it to assign drive letters and mount points.

Whether you're installing a brand-new drive or wiping an old one clean, formatting a drive is a basic maintenance task you should know how to do. Luckily, Windows 7 and 8 make this pretty easy.

Formatting a hard drive along with the install of a new OS is the best option. The vast majority of operating system installations provide a "format" option as part of the installation process.