how to reformat a former boot drive

edccmu22 · 09-04-2004, 01:47 AM

I have two hard drives and I'm trying to reformat one of them. It used to boot to windows so if I try to reformat it, I get an error saying I can't reformat a boot drive. I've tried formatting using "computer management" in administrative tools and using the FORMAT command on the command line. The latter says "system partition is not allowed to be formatted". There is nothing I want to save on this drive and I just want to wipe it clean.

Does anyone know how to get around this?

Thanks in advance.

clovely81 · 09-04-2004, 05:17 AM

Try just manually deleting everything on it and then format it. Otherwise use a low level formatting tool like powermax to wipe it clean. If you use powermax make sure you select the right hard drive

If neither of those work let me know.

**Praetor** · 09-04-2004, 02:02 PM

1. Uh you're not trying to format a currently live-booted-drive are you?
2. You can always frag the partition

Monk_and_Two_Peas · 09-04-2004, 06:19 PM

If your trying to format a live-booted drive, just do it in dos, (format c

Worked for me.

**Praetor** · 09-04-2004, 08:10 PM

And how exactly did you manage to do that? DOS and LiveBootXP are two mutually exclusive states (i.e., you either have WindowsXP firing up or you have DOS fired up).

09-04-2004, 01:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
edccmu22 New Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 16	how to reformat a former boot drive I have two hard drives and I'm trying to reformat one of them. It used to boot to windows so if I try to reformat it, I get an error saying I can't reformat a boot drive. I've tried formatting using "computer management" in administrative tools and using the FORMAT command on the command line. The latter says "system partition is not allowed to be formatted". There is nothing I want to save on this drive and I just want to wipe it clean. Does anyone know how to get around this? Thanks in advance.

09-04-2004, 02:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Praetor Administrator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Age: 24 Posts: 19,946	1. Uh you're not trying to format a currently live-booted-drive are you? 2. You can always frag the partition __________________ ASUS P5K Premium WiFi-AP, Q6600@3.7 / ASUS P5ND, E6400@3.8 4GB OCz Platinum XTC 8500 / 4GB CorsairXMS2 6400 5x500GB Seagate 7200.10 / 2x500 Seagate 7200.10 OCz 8800GTX 768MB @ 630/800 / 2x Galaxy 8800GT SLI

09-04-2004, 08:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Praetor Administrator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Age: 24 Posts: 19,946	And how exactly did you manage to do that? DOS and LiveBootXP are two mutually exclusive states (i.e., you either have WindowsXP firing up or you have DOS fired up). __________________ ASUS P5K Premium WiFi-AP, Q6600@3.7 / ASUS P5ND, E6400@3.8 4GB OCz Platinum XTC 8500 / 4GB CorsairXMS2 6400 5x500GB Seagate 7200.10 / 2x500 Seagate 7200.10 OCz 8800GTX 768MB @ 630/800 / 2x Galaxy 8800GT SLI

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09-04-2004, 05:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
clovely81 New Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 3	Try just manually deleting everything on it and then format it. Otherwise use a low level formatting tool like powermax to wipe it clean. If you use powermax make sure you select the right hard drive If neither of those work let me know.

09-04-2004, 06:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Monk_and_Two_Peas New Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Co. Clare, Ireland Age: 21 Posts: 10	If your trying to format a live-booted drive, just do it in dos, (format c Worked for me.