Format Windows XP?

Question

Every time that I try to format Windows XP, it tells me that something is running. I tried to format from windows and DOS prompt. No luck to date.

I tryed the DOS disk, before. I installed a disk, booted to disk, and choose R. It went to DOS, which wanted a number. I chosse 1. Then it asked for a password, which I left balnk. Then I typed "format C:" That seemed to work.

Answer 1

You cannot format your C drive while you are on your C drive. If you want to wipe everything out and format you need to boot from CD (or another hard drive). If you have your Windows CD just boot from that and choose Install Windows - you can then format the drive if you want to.

Answer 2

You don't need to worry on formating hard drive if you want to reinstall windows xp. The bootable XP cd works for both. Start your computer with installation cd in the CD drive. If it does not boot from CD, then change the boot option (press F8, F12, Del... check when computer starts) to CD as first option. When the computer boots from xp installation CD, it should ask for installation with 'format' or without format options. It will format the hard drive and install xp. If you are finding problem, then you can do wtih 'DOS'. First have the DOS bootable floopy or CD with Format application. Now type the comman 'Format' from the root (A:\Format C: ) which will ask you for confirmation. If you click 'Yes', it will start formating your harddisk. Here, A: is the drive where you have format software and C: is the drive you want to format. Becareful to save your files before starting format command!

Answer 3

You have to boot from a CD or floppy drive. You can format the hard drive that Windows XP is on while you're in Windows XP. Download a Windows 98 boot disk.

Answer 4

I dint know if you got a retail CD or a factory CD. Best way to format Windows XP is to boot off the Windows XP CD Rom. BE WARNED WHEN YOU DO A FORMAT, EVERYTHING IS GONE FORM THE HARD DRIVE AND YOU WILL HAVE TO REINSTALL ALL YOUR APPLICATIONS AGAIN...also make sure you have the drivers for your devices, such as your network adapter and sound card, display adapter, etc. Restart the computer with the XP CD Rom in the tray and if you see hit any key to boot from CD Rom, hit the space bar, then do the following keystrokes when prompted. Hit to install if you agree to EULA, then to install fresh. Select partition you want to delete and hit , and then . Then hit , select NTFS (don't select quick). When the computer is done formatting/copying files, it will re-boot. It will say hit any key to boot from CD ROM, don't do it. Let the install proceed. Be sure to unplug your computer from the Internet when doing the format.

Answer 5

put the xp disc in your dvd or cd drive and reboot. during the boot sequence hit F12 repeatedly until the boot menu displays. select boot from dvd/cd drive.

be aware - formating and reinstalling windows is not a good idea if you need help just figuring out how to perform a cd boot. the formatting and partitioning menus are primitive and will confuse people who are not technically savvy. you could wind up with a useless box instead of a pc.

Answer 6

Steve B you cannot format when you using win XP my friend even from DOS command. Here what you should do

1 Switch on your PC
2 Choose to boot from your CD-ROM
3 Boot with your Win XP disk
4 from here you will know what to do Steve B just follow the INSTRUCTIONS

good luck

Answer 7

you can't format the drive that windows is running on from windows.
you have to do it from a boot disk.

Answer 8

How to partition and format a hard disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348

How do you reformat the hard drive?
http://www.answers.com/topic/how-do-you-reformat-the-hard-drive-1

Reformatting Your Computer Using Windows XP
http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/windows/instructions/reformat.htm

How to Format a Hard Drive With Windows XP
http://www.ehow.com/how_6026_format-hard-drive.html

DOS/Windows format
http://www.answers.com/topic/dos-windows-format?cat=technology

Answer 9

you can do it with xp disc, but you must boot from disk, try putting in the disk and restarting pc it should say press any key to boot from cd and walaa if that does not work you can change your bios to boot from disk or use FDISK. good luck!