I recently pulled a 13GB HD from an old Windows 98 system. I tried to install it into my system and it is recognized as 13GB in BIOS but only 1.99GB in Windows (I assume that's because it's FAT16 formatted?) When I attempt to format the disk, I get the error message that the disk is in use by Windows and can't be formatted. I haven't a clue as to how to bypass this error. What can I do?
2006-07-26 03:50:21 · 7 answers · asked by habaceeba 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
How are you attempting to format the thing?
You can try using the control panel > administrative tools > computer management > disk management. You should be able to see that second drive there and be able to reparition and format it.
You can also get a boot floppy disk, with fdisk and format on it. Boot from the disk to get a dos prompt. Use fdisk and format to parition and format the second disk.
2006-07-26 03:59:59 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you're using Windows XP, you first need to go into Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Disk Management.
Once there, locate the 13GB drive. It should be displaying a 1.99GB Partition, and the balance of the drive should be blank space. right-click on the existing partition, then delete it. Afterwards, create a single partition by right-clicking on the empty drive. After you create the single partition, right click on it again, the select "format", and choose NTFS as the file system.
2006-07-26 11:02:05 · answer #2 · answered by Spartacus! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure the drive is set to the Slave setting via the jumpers on the back of the HDD. Then delete everything on the drive. Make sure there are no hidden files owned by windows on the drive. reset the PC and try the format again. You can even reformat it in the more efficient NTFS if you have winXP pro. Good luck! Check the link for full instructions.
2006-07-26 10:59:03 · answer #3 · answered by Rowdy answers 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
frankly i've not done a ntfs partition and full xp install, tho i use xp too ... so maybe i could be wrong
if u have boot disk for win 98 or win me ... i guess u can do it
win 98 is not fat16 , but fat32
boot from win'98 floppy / cd
run fdisk and check if entire 13 gb accounted for
delete all partitions, secondary and then primary from that drive
.... next u can handle
ntfs or fat32 u'r choice
do it thro xp or present os on c:
_______________________
ok reading answers above me, 'davidis', i guess xp has simpler tools that can handle fat16 / fat32 issues ...
so u'r job becomes all that more simpler
--- best of luck
2006-07-26 11:06:25 · answer #4 · answered by sεαη 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have the disk as your C drive then it won't format, you have to use the format command off another disk, Boot up off a cd or a 3 1/2" floppy with the format command on it then run the format command, format c:/s the /s will make it bootable.
Here's a site that will explain it all
http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/how-tos/reformat-reinstall-win98.shtml
2006-07-26 11:02:28 · answer #5 · answered by camaro46368 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
considering you can get a 200 gb for $50 why waste your time on this hdd that is long overdue for failure hdd life=2 years
2006-07-26 11:19:50 · answer #6 · answered by johnman142 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pull it out and use it as a paper weight! 13gigs ain't enough to sneeze about.
2006-07-26 10:55:19 · answer #7 · answered by pfc_weiss 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋