I think if you install Linux on it and choose the "use it as only OS" opinion, that will wipe out any Windows on the HD. Then later on you can mess with formating it, although you might have to do it in Linux....
I'm sure there were things I did not do. But, the drive was 4 years old. I wanted to wipe it to use it for back up only. For $50, I can buy a new drive. Not worth the effort to save the old drive. At some point you have to put a value on your time. This is coming from someone that built his last 8 computers over the last 10 years.
Why throw away a drive? You will want to wipe it either way so it is cheaper to just wipe & re-use vs. wipe, throw away, buy new & format. I don't get threads like this with all the random suggestions - for a basic format there are easy utilities on the website of each HDD manufacturer. Just use the manufacturer's program... it will always work, it will be legit (no viruses, etc) and it will be free.