Is this the new question, because I see no poll?
The answer is simple, you don't format it ahead of time... it will format it when you install the system software via the software installer or an FTP install. If you are using an off-the-shelf drive and not an "official" hard drive from Mitel, use the FixPartition parameter to build a new partition table on the drive when you install the software, the tech handbook shows this parameter but doesn't really specify what it is for, I use it whenever we use a retail drive and it has worked fine.