Can't Format!?

Kornowski · 05-15-2008, 06:47 PM

I tried right clicking on the drive in 'My Computer' and clicking 'Format' and it gets to the end and says that Windows was unable to format the drive.

I've tried formatting it with the Windows CD and it says;

"Windows Set Up could not reinitialize the development engine. To install Windows, Restart the instillation."

What can I do, I can't use the drive unless I format it...
Thanks for any help!

Kornowski · 05-15-2008, 07:41 PM

I really need some help, Bump

Kornowski · 05-15-2008, 09:07 PM

Surely somebody must be able to give me some help...

OvenMaster · 05-16-2008, 08:27 AM

Um, which drive? Not your C: drive, right? You cannot format your C: drive from within the Windows GUI. Any other drive, sure, with Disk Management or right-clicking.

If you're talking about formatting your C: drive via the OS disk, I'm going to guess there's some sort of problem with SATA.

Tom

Kornowski · 05-16-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OvenMaster

Um, which drive? Not your C: drive, right? You cannot format your C: drive from within the Windows GUI. Any other drive, sure, with Disk Management or right-clicking.

If you're talking about formatting your C: drive via the OS disk, I'm going to guess there's some sort of problem with SATA.

Tom

Hey Tom,

Thanks for the reply.

Nope, it isn't the C: Drive. It's another SATA HDD that I added, I had Windows on it and now I want to format it, but can't. I've tried doing it through 'My Computer', 'Computer Management' and with the 'Vista DVD'. But none of them worked.

Is there a program that can like, force a wipe. All I want is to put Windows on it again, Any suggestions? Change the SATA port?

Bootup05 · 05-16-2008, 11:19 AM

Im guessing theres still some boot files on there, this happened to me.

Is that drive you want to format being classed as the system drive? Check for hidden files on the drive that are still lurking around an then use something like FDISK to format it outside of windows.

IIRC You can't copy the boot files over so it would mean a reformat, but thats one way of getting your nuisance drive formatted

Go check, whats the drive being listed as under drive manager, & What hidden files are left on there

Kornowski · 05-16-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bootup05

Im guessing theres still some boot files on there, this happened to me.

Is that drive you want to format being classed as the system drive? Check for hidden files on the drive that are still lurking around an then use something like FDISK to format it outside of windows.

IIRC You can't copy the boot files over so it would mean a reformat, but thats one way of getting your nuisance drive formatted

Go check, whats the drive being listed as under drive manager, & What hidden files are left on there

Yeah, It has a previous copy of Windows on there, Well, I mean, at least I think it does. I can't view what's on it, I need to format it before I can look at what's on it...

I have two HDD's in my computer at the moment, A WD120GB with Vista on, and this Seagate 500GB that I need to format (I want Vista on that one)

What do you suggest?
I was recomended MaxBlast 5, So, I need to format it, then Partition it?

Thanks!

shenry · 05-16-2008, 12:33 PM

It might be possible to clone that drive then use a program to make the partition bigger... Anyway thats out of my league

Did somebody say FDISK??

Super Fdisk is the way to go!!

Kornowski · 05-16-2008, 02:37 PM

What to do here?

OvenMaster · 05-16-2008, 11:33 PM

Looks like you want Option 3, if I go by what you said you wanted.
You also could use Maxblast 5 to zero out the drive and then reformat it for use.
Tom

05-16-2008, 08:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
OvenMaster VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Away for a while Age: 49 Posts: 1,961	Um, which drive? Not your C: drive, right? You cannot format your C: drive from within the Windows GUI. Any other drive, sure, with Disk Management or right-clicking. If you're talking about formatting your C: drive via the OS disk, I'm going to guess there's some sort of problem with SATA. Tom __________________ Frankenbox III: CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ * MOBO: Biostar K8M800 Micro AM2 * RAM: 2x1GB Kingston DDR2 667 HDD: WD 80GB Master, Seagate 320GB Slave * DVD: Pioneer DVR-115DBK & LiteOn SOHW-812S DVD/CD burners PSU: Antec SmartPower 2.0 350W * GPU: PNY GeForce FX5200 256MB AGP 8x * MON: ViewSonic LCD VA721 CASE: eMachines * SND: Diamond Xtreme 5.1 * PRN: Epson C88+ * OS: XP Home SP2 *** ROUTER: Linksys BEFSR41

05-16-2008, 11:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bootup05 Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Essex, UK Age: 17 Posts: 1,262	Im guessing theres still some boot files on there, this happened to me. Is that drive you want to format being classed as the system drive? Check for hidden files on the drive that are still lurking around an then use something like FDISK to format it outside of windows. IIRC You can't copy the boot files over so it would mean a reformat, but thats one way of getting your nuisance drive formatted Go check, whats the drive being listed as under drive manager, & What hidden files are left on there __________________ Main System Proccy - Intel E6400 @ 3440 \| Mobo - P5B DLX \| RAM - 2GB TwinX 6400 C5 \| GPU - 96GT HDD - WD 400GB Caviar SE - WD 320GB Caviar SE - 160GB Seagate Ext Monitor - Asus 19" Wide LCD \| PSU - Tagan 600W Dual Engine \| Soundcard - SB Live Ext 24 Heatsink - S Infinity \| Optical - Pioneer DVDRW \| OS - Vista Ult64 SP1

05-16-2008, 11:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
OvenMaster VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Away for a while Age: 49 Posts: 1,961	Looks like you want Option 3, if I go by what you said you wanted. You also could use Maxblast 5 to zero out the drive and then reformat it for use. Tom __________________ Frankenbox III: CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ * MOBO: Biostar K8M800 Micro AM2 * RAM: 2x1GB Kingston DDR2 667 HDD: WD 80GB Master, Seagate 320GB Slave * DVD: Pioneer DVR-115DBK & LiteOn SOHW-812S DVD/CD burners PSU: Antec SmartPower 2.0 350W * GPU: PNY GeForce FX5200 256MB AGP 8x * MON: ViewSonic LCD VA721 CASE: eMachines * SND: Diamond Xtreme 5.1 * PRN: Epson C88+ * OS: XP Home SP2 *** ROUTER: Linksys BEFSR41

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