Format hard drive?

Question

How do I format my hard drive from DOS? I then want to reinstall XP. Any help would be appreciated.

Also, the installation disk I've got is the original XP disc - what about the Windows service pack 2? Do I just download that after I've reinstalled the original Windows?

Answer 1

Hi,]
Part of the installation process of Windows XP allows you to reformat the hard drive. I always do a full format as compared to a "Quick Format". It gives you the choice. Takes a while depending on the size of your hard drive. Unless you are a wiz and want to download it, and slipstream SRP2 into your installation disk, downloading it and installing it is best.

Answer 2

windows xp has aformatting option during the installation so a format in dos isnt nessecary,
when you install windows xp the set up will recognize if there is a unallocated space or wrong file system and will then give you a option to format the drive you are using in either n.t.f.s or fat32
windows service pack 2 comes to your computer as a update,but be warned ,its a massive update(around 260mb) so it may take a while to download and install
alternatively you could go to http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/xpsp2.html,and download the update yourself before you install windows xp
i did this and burned the update to disk so i allways have a copy of it incase i need it
most recent copys of windows xp has service pack 2 built into the disk and the update is installed during set up,however if you disk was made before 2004 it wont have the update built in
good luck

Answer 3

If you have a Windows 98 disk, just insert it & stand back! It won't load 98 because XP is running so it says 'you can't do this unless you format c first. Yes/No?' All done! Robert.

Answer 4

in dos we have fdisk option .. which gives all u r needs