How do I format my hard drive to get rid of the blue screen?

Question

Hi I have the 'blue screen of death' according to the Windows helpdesk I can solve this one by, deleting partitions, recreating partitions and formatting the hard disk drive. How do I do this? They don't seem to cover questions that are that simple, I'm afraid I need easy step by step instructions. My computer won't load up in safe mode either so I need a way to do it from the Blue screen.

Thank you

I have Windows XP.
The Blue Screen of Death says UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME. This was the solution suggested by windows.

Answer 1

Formating will erase all the file on your hard drive
Back up your file before proceed
1) insert windows cd
2)restart pc
3)boot from cd
4)after booting, delete partition
5)create partiton
6)format partition
7)Install windaows

Answer 2

When you format and fdisk you are going to lose all your files, you know.

Have you tried STEP by STEP boot-up?

Look to see at what area the boot fails. It could be a bad system file. I once had this happen. It was the win.ini file and it got over-written into infinity.

If it boots to a point then you can probably try and avoid that file at the prompt

Load Y/N?

Since it won't go into safe mode, I'm betting you have a bad

win.ini
system.ini
user.dat

Go to the C prompt, type in EDIT and an editor should come up and look at the

win.ini

then the

system.ini

make sure they are not corrpupt.

If corrupt, do a save as

win.in_

then remove everything corrupt up to the last good line, then save as

win.ini

Then try and reboot.

If none of this works you will have to make new partitions and re-format, but you will lose all your data

I hope you have a NEW system disk for Windows and NOT an upgrade, otherwise you are in serious trouble as it will NOT install from an upgrade.

An alternative route, if you want to TRY and recover files, is to get a new hard drive, use your system Windows disk to make it bootable and then make the old drive a D drive and see if you can transfer your programs and files over to the new C drive.

If you don't have a NEW INSTALL of Windows disk, but you have a legal copy, you must go into a shop, have them reformat and install from their drive, but they will want to see a Microsoft certificate showing you have a licensed copy.

There is no other way to back up your files, except to get another hard drive, format it, put an OS on it and then transfer from Windows if it will let you or the C prompt, switched from C to D and then copying files. Don't copy the OS, only your programs.

The sad thing is if you have a bad WIN or SYSTEM INI or DAT file, then those programs will probalby NOT work on the new drive as they need to be registered in all three of these files.

Answer 3

BACK UP ANY FILES YOU CAN!!

Then stick the Windows install disk in the disc drive. When the computer starts up it will boot off the disk instead of the Hard Disk. There should be an option to format the hard drive and reinstall windows.

Answer 4

Have you tried booting from the CD? Or a floppy recovery disk if you made one?

You need to be more specific as to the error on you BSD.

If you intend a reinstall (albeit without formatting) this may work and retain all your files: http://ctrinity.wordpress.com/2006/01/17/reinstalling-windows-xp-without-drive-format/

Answer 5

No, and sometimes yes.

It all depends on what is wrong that is causing the BSOD

What OS?? Most of Windows OSes can be overlayed/repaired so you don't loose your information. Otherwise, go to Safemode (F8 when the PC is booting) and save all your pictures and private documents.

You will need to get all the drivers for your system... if you don't have them, you should be able to find them online.

Answer 6

BSOD is related to memory problems this can be dodgy programs on your computer. spyware, viruses. also if you have recently upgraded your pc memory etc. back up any essential files before formatting. then place the installation disk in your pc and reinstall

Answer 7

right click on the hard disk, and click "format". but make sure you have all your data backed up.