Media Center cannot format a HDD without installing windows?

[Messerschmitt]

I want to format a second harddrive which will be slave. But the only option to format I saw was to install windows. By chosing this option only then it will start formating the hard drive and it would only do it in NTFS. But the problem is that if I chose this option immidiatly after formating, he will start copying files on it and after rebot automaticaly trying to install another copy of Windows. Worse, is that I can't even make the PC to boot from my normal windows as he will only want to start from the un-finished windows instalation.

All other options i saw was delete partition or create partition. But no plane format for the HDD. How can I format my hard drive in such conditions?

[nitroshift]

Is the drive already in your pc? Right click on it then choose format. VOILA!

[Messerschmitt]

It gives an error as windows cannot format

[nitroshift]

Then I'd recommend Partition Magic or Acronis Disk Director off a bootable CD...