How can I format my computer without my CD-Drive ?

Question

I have a bad virus on my computer that wiped out all my cd and dvd drives no icons and will not auto start!

Answer 1

Try a system restore first, pick a date when you know it was all working.
Or, to format again:
You can do so from windows, but you do not quite "clean" everything, because windows is still sorta running, it leaves a bit of hard drive not wiped out.
You may wish to reboot in safe mode with a command prompt, if you do not have a floppy drive..
from the command prompt type
format c:
Or try from windows
Start_Run_"command"
Then format c

If you have a floppy drive, you may get the bootable data here:
http://www.bootdisk.com/

You may also try and create your own bootable floppy:
Standalone Computer Boot Floppies
Create a boot floppy with any CD ROM, SCSI, Sound, and Mouse drivers, as well as some DOS utility files. This can come in useful if you need to install in an emergency, such as not being able to boot to Windows9x.
1. Format a floppy with the /S option. This will install the system files necessary for booting to the floppy

2. Create a CONFIG.SYS file.
The following is a simple CONFIG.SYS File. Your actual drivers would need to be added:

device=himem.sys
device=emm386.exe noems
device=cdrom.sys (Your CD ROM Driver would go here)
dos=high,umb
files=30
buffers=30


Be sure to add any third party drivers you may need to access your hard drive. This would be in a situation where you BIOS does not suppport large drivers

3. The following is a simple AUTOEXEC.BAT File.
@echo off
cls
mscdex /d:12345678 (where 12345678 is the string for your
particular CD Drivers)

4. The following are a few Utility Files that may also come it useful. These need to be from the same version of DOS use used to format the floppy.
FORMAT.COM
FDISK.EXE
SYS.COM
HIMEM.SYS
EMM386.EXE
MSCDEX.EXE
XCOPY.EXE
DELTREE.EXE
ATTRIB.EXE
DISKCOPY.EXE

Answer 2

STEP 1: Right-Click on the “My Computer” icon either on your desktop or in the Start Menu, and select “Manage” STEP 2: A new window titled “Computer Management” comes up. Select “Storage” from the left hand side by clicking it once, then select “Disk Management(local)” from the right side by double-clicking it. STEP 3: Now in the lower part of the main frame (right side) of the window you should see a nice visual of all your hard drives. Each line is a different drive. Each box on a line (with a colored bar at the top and a size displayed in MB or GB) is a partition on the drive. Partitions are separations of space on a drive, unless you are doing something specific that requires multiple partitions you only want one partition per drive. STEP 4: First you must delete any existing partitions on the drive you are going to format. You do this by right-clicking on the partition's box and selecting “Delete Partition...” Since you already know that you will be deleting everything on the drive, and have already backed everything up, you can safely say yes to any warning the computer presents you with.
STEP 5: If there are multiple partitions make sure you have saved everything off them since they might each have different drive letters (i.e. “D:” or “F:”). Then repeat the above step for each of them. If you only want to format one partition that is OK and you can continue to the next step without deleting the other partitions.
STEP 6: The box for the drive to be formatted should now have a black bar at the top of it and should say “Unallocated” under its size (see picture). Right click on it and select “New Partition...” the New Partition Wizard comes up. STEP 7: In the New Partition Wizard click next. On the next page make sure “Primary Partition” is selected and click next. Now make the size equal to the maximum (it should already be set to it), click next again. On the next page the computer will automatically choose the first available drive letter for the new drive, however if you like you can choose another drive letter from the drop down menu, then click next. STEP 8: Finally the New Partition Wizard asks if you would like to format the new partition and if so what format. If your computer will be sharing files over a network with a Windows ME, 98, or 95 computer select “FAT32” otherwise choose “NTFS” as it is faster and more secure. Leave the “Allocation unit size” as “Default.” In the “Volume label” field enter whatever name you want the drive to have, simple is better and avoid using spaces. Lastly, if the drive is brand new and has never been used before check the “Perform a quick format” box, if the drive has been used before leave this box unchecked. Leave the “Enable file and folder compression” box unchecked and click next. Then on the next page click finish. STEP 9: The wizard will now spend a little while formatting the drive. On old or large drives this may take a while. Do not close the “Computer Management” window until it finishes, you will know it is done when the word under the size of the drive changes from “Formatting” to “Healthy” and the name and drive letter you chose for the new drive show up. After it is finished you are done and can proceed to use your newly formatted drive.

Answer 3

once you position in an operating gadget, you want to do it on the workstation it really is meant for. in the different case the OS will set up the incorrect drivers and setup a boot list that couldn't element to the C: force. yet, drivers have no longer something to do which include your setting up situation, because the motherboard alongside with the Windows7 setting up have conventional drivers that paintings for each CD/DVD force for sale. What occurs once you try as well from the disc? Does it initiate operating and then fail? Or does it basically no longer initiate in any respect? If it does no longer initiate in any respect, then you actually likely had the boot order set improperly interior the BIOS, combating the gadget from attempting as well off CD/DVD. Now that you've deleted the unique boot list for abode windows XP, the workstation will promptly bypass through the tricky force and attempt as well off the CD. So positioned the Windows7 disk again interior the force and examine out back.

Answer 4

The virus probally just blocked your things from loading.. However when your computer is starting up the computer still detects the CD Drive. If you have to use a resotre Disk then it can be possible.

Just make sure you enter system setup and select Boot Sequence to CDROM first.


Im just curious you say your things doesnt load. Do you at leaqst see the sign in screen? If so sign in, Hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete
File->New Task->Explorer.exe

See if that helps. any more questions please provide more info. Will check this post agains soon if you decide to post more info.

Answer 5

maybe it's not an virus .. are ur cd roms showned durring boting or in bios? if that so u installed any software that can give u the option to hide ur drives like system mechanic? if not that one maybe other..any way try this http://www.iolo.com/sm/index.cfm and see if u can modify any options to show ur drives icons befor formating ur hdd. try using the windows cd to format u'r hdd but first go to bios and select the primary booting device to be cdrom.

Answer 6

go to the command set up and type this (format.exe) and follow the intructions

Answer 7

With a magnet.

Answer 8

floppy