How to format a hard drive?

If you are needing to install an Operating System (OS), then you will have the option of formatting the drive during the installation process. If not, and she is running Windows, from Explorer you can right click on the drive you want to format and select Format from the menu, as long as it isn't the boot drive. If it's the boot drive, then you will need to re-install the OS as you cannot format the boot drive and still have a working computer.

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Formatting will erase everything including the operating system. But if you really want to, go to windows explorer and right click on the drive, example, "C" or "D" and click on "format". It will give you a warning that everything will be erased.

Well, if you simply format the hard drive it will no longer boot. 'Formating' a hard drive can completely wipe out all data, including the operating system. I'm presuming you're running Windows.

Sounds like what you want to do is reload Windows. This will wipe out the existing installation of Windows and return it to the state it was when it was new. Some computer brands have a 'recovery partition' which can be accessed by pressing a function key shortly after the computer is turned on. Other computers come with an actual Windows CD, which you put into your computers CD or DVD drive and restart the computer. Often times it may be necessary to change the computers boot order (that is, the order in which drives are checked for bootable disks) if it does not boot from the Windows CD.

There are a number of tasks necessary after Windows is reloaded, hardware drivers must be installed, Windows updates must be installed, antivirus and other user programs must be reinstalled, printer drivers, etc.

In short, to do it correctly can be daunting if you're not a computer geek or have never done it before.