formatting help needed

livelife · 05-04-2005, 12:24 PM

how do i completly format my hard drive???

i have tried to right click and select format but it says there are programs running off the hard drive and tell me to close them. i do that till it's only the critical systems left and it still gives me the same message.
i have windows xp.

elmarcorulz · 05-04-2005, 12:26 PM

do u have a xp cd? if so boot from that and it will give you the option to format, dont do a quick format, do a full.

narafa · 05-04-2005, 01:10 PM

Even if you don't have a winXP cd, you can boot using any bootable CD or even a boot floppy disk, and at the command prompt, type the following:

c:\>format c:

Change the drive letter to format the other partitions.

elmarcorulz · 05-04-2005, 01:26 PM

but its easier if he uses a XP cd, assumming he uses xp, becuase he can then re installl the OS straight away

narafa · 05-04-2005, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmarcorulz

but its easier if he uses a XP cd, assumming he uses xp, becuase he can then re installl the OS straight away

Ya sure, I agree it's much more easier if he has a bootable XP CD, but I gave the other option if he does not have a bootable XP CD my friend

that's all.

randruff · 05-04-2005, 01:29 PM

Formatting is a rather easy, but time consuming task. In order to do so, you need to go into your BIOS and edit the boot order. Simply put your CD drive as the first boot device. Assuming you have a Windows XP (or whichever OS you are using), insert that into the CD drive and restart. After the post, it will prompt you to boot from the CD. Proceed and boot from the CD. After loading some drivers, Windows setup will begin. You will have to delete your current partition, make another partition(s), choose whichever partition you wish to be your system volume, and baaaaaaaaaaam youre done!

**Praetor** · 05-04-2005, 09:21 PM

Quote:

but its easier if he uses a XP cd

Whats wrong with a 2000 CD?

Quote:

Formatting is a rather easy, but time consuming task. In order to do so, you need to go into your BIOS and edit the boot order.

wth??

elmarcorulz · 05-04-2005, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praetor

Whats wrong with a 2000 CD?

XP was just an example of using a O/S CD

livelife · 05-05-2005, 10:22 AM

i'v placed the cd in and booted from it but it does not give me the option to format. all i get is install windows xp, repair and exit.

elmarcorulz · 05-05-2005, 10:35 AM

go to install windows, the it will ask you to format the hard drive. remember though you WILL need to install windows again.

05-04-2005, 12:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
livelife Bronze Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Wales Age: 20 Posts: 45	formatting help needed how do i completly format my hard drive??? i have tried to right click and select format but it says there are programs running off the hard drive and tell me to close them. i do that till it's only the critical systems left and it still gives me the same message. i have windows xp. __________________ :D Live Life :D

05-04-2005, 12:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
elmarcorulz VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK Age: 21 Posts: 6,033	do u have a xp cd? if so boot from that and it will give you the option to format, dont do a quick format, do a full. __________________ C2D E6300 @ 2.6Ghz Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 2GB DDR2 667 1TB (1x500GB 2x250GB HDD) BFG 8800GTS 320MB PFC Til I Die

05-04-2005, 01:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
narafa Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Egypt Age: 29 Posts: 450	Even if you don't have a winXP cd, you can boot using any bootable CD or even a boot floppy disk, and at the command prompt, type the following: c:\>format c: Change the drive letter to format the other partitions. __________________ - Intel P4 1.8 Ghz - 512 KB L2 Cache - GigaByte MoBo with built in sound - 384 MB SDRAM PC133 - GeForce 2 MX 400, 64 MB - 80 GB Segate HDD + 80 GB WD HDD - 52X LG CD-ROM - 52X-24X-52X LG CD-RW - LG 14" Monitor :mad: - NIC 10/100 - Rockwell Internal Modem - ADSL 256 Kbps :mad: - Generic Floppy, Keyboard, Mouse & Speakers Protected by Norton Corporate Edition & Sygate Personal Firewall If you are dead sure that you are right, then probably the rest of the world is WRONG!!

05-04-2005, 01:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
elmarcorulz VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK Age: 21 Posts: 6,033	but its easier if he uses a XP cd, assumming he uses xp, becuase he can then re installl the OS straight away __________________ C2D E6300 @ 2.6Ghz Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 2GB DDR2 667 1TB (1x500GB 2x250GB HDD) BFG 8800GTS 320MB PFC Til I Die

05-05-2005, 10:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
livelife Bronze Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Wales Age: 20 Posts: 45	i'v placed the cd in and booted from it but it does not give me the option to format. all i get is install windows xp, repair and exit. __________________ :D Live Life :D

05-04-2005, 01:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
randruff Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: 30 min south of iraq....oops....Detroit. Age: 27 Posts: 742	Formatting is a rather easy, but time consuming task. In order to do so, you need to go into your BIOS and edit the boot order. Simply put your CD drive as the first boot device. Assuming you have a Windows XP (or whichever OS you are using), insert that into the CD drive and restart. After the post, it will prompt you to boot from the CD. Proceed and boot from the CD. After loading some drivers, Windows setup will begin. You will have to delete your current partition, make another partition(s), choose whichever partition you wish to be your system volume, and baaaaaaaaaaam youre done!

05-05-2005, 10:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
elmarcorulz VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK Age: 21 Posts: 6,033	go to install windows, the it will ask you to format the hard drive. remember though you WILL need to install windows again. __________________ C2D E6300 @ 2.6Ghz Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 2GB DDR2 667 1TB (1x500GB 2x250GB HDD) BFG 8800GTS 320MB PFC Til I Die

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