How do you format a hard drive on windows xp including formatting partition where the operating centre is kept

Question

Hi, wonder if anyone can answer the above. On windows 98 you could just type in command prompt C:\\format C: and completely format the hard drive.

Tried this on my machine which runs xp and it asks me the volume name. I then type in hdd and then it says all my data will be lost. I then hit enter and it tells me that something else is running and do I want to dismount. I click Y enter but nothing.

I do know that by re-installing windows it will give the drive a quick format but thought that by formatting the drive manually will do a better job.

Thanks

Answer 1

On Win98 you could never type in C:\ format c: just like you can't type that in XP either. It is impossible to format the drive you are using.

However, you could boot from the Win98 disk (which creates a RAM drive) and format C: that way.

Also, there is absolutely no way to reformat a drive and keep the operating system intact.

XP reinstall usually asks you if you want a quick format or full format. The full format is the same one you are talking about, so just do it during the install.

Answer 2

The old c:\format command worked because of fat partitions. Windows XP is an NTFS partition so doesnt work. Best thing to do is boot with a boot disk containing dos and delete all partitions then boot up off the windows xp cd and let it create a new partition and you should be able to choose the long format option for ntfs which is a thorough format. But simply delete and recreating the partitions is actually better than a format as all data is destroyed when the partition is deleted

Answer 3

You need the Windows XP installation disk. Follow the procedure to do a fresh install. A a point, it will ask where you want to install Windows. On this screen, you can delete the partition for your C drive. Then create a new partition and format NTFS. This is a full format, not a quick format.

Before you do any of this, save all of your data files including documents, pictures, music, etc, as all of this will be deleted when you delete the partition.

Answer 4

After LONG battles, I found the easiest way - and it deletes everything on the hard drive, so it is okay - is to insert the cd, then it will start and go through the motions and you choose the "quick" partition on NTFS. NTFS is better than the FAT32 and is the best for XP. It will then format the hard drive and start the installation. All the other ways might work but is not necessary. This way you will not get the unmount etc problems.

Answer 5

During the setup process for Windows you can choose between a Quick or a Full format of your hard drive so really there's no need to screw around doing this when you can just do it as part of the install.

And the reason it won't let you is because you're trying to reformat the disk Windows lives on *from* Windows itself, you can hardly wipe a disk clean using the very operating system that you're trying to use to do the wipe, you need to boot from a floppy or CD to do it so that the Windows isn't running when you're trying to delete it.

Answer 6

if you are trying to add this drive as a secondary drive,do the following.
goto control panel,click Administative tools,click Computer management... From the panel that opens on the left choose Disk management. you will then see your drives listed.
you can then right click and select the format option which should do a full format.
If you are installing this drive as the master and wish to install xp,
just insert your xp disk. you will eventualy come to the screen which will prompt you to either partition if it isn't allready or format.
on choosing format you will have 2 options, quick or full.
Job done.
Have fun.

Answer 7

If you have the orginal disk it will ask if you wish to do a full format or quick . I always do full . If it is partitioned it will also give you the option of formatting whichever or deleting any partion you have ..

Answer 8

Download NTFS for dos, great command line based bootup tool.
Or if you still have your windows 98 cd, insert it, on the boot options select bott with help from cd.

Magic, Good old 98 command line.

Answer 9

I think you can make a bottable disk/CD. Then boot ur system using that disk/CD. And most probably that disk/CD will have format command.

Use it and format ur harddisk.

Answer 10

you need a windows partition manager for DOS bootable disk i have a copy if you email me i will send you the file copy if to a floppy put it in your a drive start your pc follow it instruction's me email [e-mail]