From your question I'm assuming you want to format a secondary harddrive through windows ( the harddrive without the operating system installed on it)

Here's the way to do it

In this example I have Windows XP installed on the C:/ drive and want to format the F:/ Drive through Windows XP. This can be done in two ways either via command prompt or simply through inbuilt windows options.

I have answered a very similar question in another hub so it may help your out but I was happy to do another one. How to Format and Install Windows Operating System

Right Click the drive you want to format / re-format and select format

A window will then pop-up displaying a few options the only things you need to worry about are

File System - Select NTFS , a lot faster than Fat32, Fat16 etc

Quick Format - Select Quick Format to speed up the format proccess

then Click START and you should've successfully formatted your hard-drive

Cant Seem to Format ?

If you have trouble formatting for any reason or a message pops up that says cannot complete the proccess or something along those lines usually this means a process or program is being run form that harddrive and windows is unable to complete the format while these files are in use. Best option is to restart your computer and make sure you dont open any files or programs and try the format steps above.

If you have programs installed on the harddrive you wish to format make sure you close them and any proccesses they may be running through your system tray or with task manager.

The other method of formatting is via your command prompt or command line interface and the steps are as follows.

Click Start then Run

When the Windows pops up Type cmd and hit ENTER

Once in the command line interface type Format followed by your drive letter for example to format drive F:/ type Format F:/