Please help,problem with xp formating HD

C

chrisfreez

New Member
I have the full version of XP with SP2. i had some problems and tried to format the c drive and the system would allow me. So I loaded the XP/SP2 from the OS disk. it loaded the XP os and it works fine, but there is only 5 GB out of 40 So I have to format the c drive and reinstall the OS.

What do I have to do to format the C drive. Over the years, i use to format my c drive whenever necessary because of problems.

What do I have to do to format the c drive with Windows XP/SP2?

When I relaoded XP it must have installed it next to the one that is already on the drive becasue I only have 5 GB left. Before I reinstalled XP from the Windows XP/SP2 CD I had 16 GB left out of 40. So all the old stuff must still be on there but it does not show up on the screen.

Here is the Message I got..." Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs that yoiu are using." I had nothing running at the time.

I tried to format the c drive form the c drive icon that comes up when you click the right mouse button on th "C" drive icon.

Thanks for any help
 
You can't format the system drive from within windows, windows won't format itself. When you boot to the install cd, you must delete the existing partition and repartition and then it will format the drive and then install XP. Back up any data you need saved first.
 
Yes, you must boot from the Install Disc in order to format the C: drive.

Put the disc in, restart your pc, then keep tapping the Esc key as it starts.

You should see a screen that will allow you to choose "Boot From CD".
 
Thanks, will try.

Thanks guys, I'll try what you said later today, and let you know what happened. I have not had to format my HD in years so I forgot what to do. I use to boot from a 3.5 inch floppy then format from the 3.5.

I have a P4 1.7 Ghz and it runs fast enough for me, (I replaced the MB about two years ago) but the other night strange things start happening. It locked up all the time, and a questionable window kept poping up so I want to format. Since reloading the XP/SP2 OS the lock up and strange window are gone, but as i mentioned the drive only shows 5 GB instead of the 16 I had left out of the 40.

I should have known the I could not format from windows, but I forgot.
 
I finally got to the screen where I could format my "C" drive. I had to go into the BIOS settings and change the CD drive to #1 to boot from the XPCD in the drive.

Again thanks for the help.
 
chrisfreez said:
I finally got to the screen where I could format my "C" drive. I had to go into the BIOS settings and change the CD drive to #1 to boot from the XPCD in the drive.

Again thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

Strange. Most have a default key that allows booting from the disc so you don't have to set the BIOS.

Glad you got is sorted.
 
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