how to format?

Question

I m using P-4 PC, Operating syste is XP, i tried to format my C drive, its appear cannot Format C:, Format terminated.
HOw i can format my C drive,
Be Serious please

Answer 1

C:drive is your system drive
it cannot be formatted manually
put XP bootable disk
choose new installation
choose the drive as C:
you will be asked to format that drive
in very rare cases you may not be able to format that due to few temporary files present there
in that case power quest partition magic software will help you format that drive
select the drive and click format

Answer 2

You can not format the partition (Drive) that the operating system resides on. When you reformat a drive you erase all of the information in it. If you format the drive your operating system is on, your computer will cease to function.
If you really must reformat this drive:
First: VERY IMPORTANT!!! Copy any items you want to save to CD, DVD, Network drive, or another location outside your computer. Save your documents, MP3s, pictures, etc. The Windows file and settings transfer wizard will do a pretty good job of finding your stuff and copying them into a single file, that you can copy to a CD or DVD.
Insert your Windows installation CD and reboot
When the system restarts, boot from the CD and start following the installation procedure
During the installation procedure, you have the opportunity to select which drive you want to install windows.
On this screen you can delete the partition. After you delete the partition, you can also create a new one
At this point, all of your data files are completely lost.
If you do not complete the Windows installation, your PC will not start.
If you choose install Windows, don't expect to find any of your documents, MP3s, pictures, etc., they are gone. You must reinstall all of your other programs as they are gone also.

Answer 3

you cannot format C: drive while you have loged into windows.

Because C drive is the active partion and by default OS will install into C drive. It is simillar to cutting base of the Tree by standing on it. Thus OS will not allow destorying itself by our command.

if you format C drive you need to reinstall the OS. Right.
Thus follow these steps to reinstall the OS and it will also give option to format.

goto BIOS in boot configuration select Boot from CD. save BIOS.
Place Windows XP CD in CDROM and start the installation procedure.

at some point it will show list of drives. select first drive (C:) and click next. it will prompt for format say yes.

Answer 4

If you format, you will lose everything on your computer, including Windows. You need to boot to a boot disk and then type "format c:" or replace "c" with the drive you want to format.

Answer 5

You cannot be at the C: prompt from within Windows. Boot from a disk that bypasses the whole windows start up thing and only boots to C:

Don't foreget to load your CD drivers on a bootable disk or you won't be able to use your CD drive.

Answer 6

boot computer and hit F8 while booting. Select Command Prompt at the selection screen.

At command prompt type

Format C:\