How do you format by using MS-DOS on floppy disk for windows xp pro?

Question

Plus if you format by using ms-dos does it also delete my windows xp installion becasue i dont have the cd and i hope it doesnt and just want it to wipe all my data and all that except for my windows xp pro installtion

Answer 1

If you format the disk, you will wipe ALL the data including the Windows XP instalation and thus need the XP disc to reload the operating system.

You can't wipe all the data and leave the OS by formatting unless Windows was installed on a seperate drive to the data you wish to delete.

Answer 2

MS DOS will only format partitions less than 2Gb..

However this is not what you want to do anyhow because this WILL remove XP as well as the data.. If you are asking this question, then I'm assuming that you're not very experienced.. In which case.. DON'T DO IT! You'll most likely muck it up and end up with an unusable system with expensive repair bill. Instead, get yourself a study guide and teach yourself how the Pro's do it They're available in many languages).. There's no shortcut, but then you'll be on the road to being able to help your mates, and possibly somewhere towards a reasonably well paid career in IT.

Alternatively click on Start>Control Panel>Add/Remove programs and uninstall everything, then you need to remove all the user profiles except your own by clicking on Start>control Panel>System then on the Advanced tab, click Settings under User Profile and remove everyone that you're allowed to (it won't let you delete the profile you've logged on as) then delete everything from your desktop and My documents folder and sub folders, then run the disk cleanup wizard by Clicking Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type cleanmgr, and then click OK. and delete everything. Then your system will be pretty clean.. Not sparkling.. there'll be loads of hangovers, but you'll have a lot more disk space to play with, but I really would suggest you invest in a book like the one below (search Google for "exam 70-270 training" for more ideas about free resources in this area, this is the exam number for the official microsoft course for Windows XP)

Answer 3

First, you WILL need a Windows XP cd. Get it by hook or by crook, and afterwards proceed...

1. Boot from floppy WITH cd support. You should be placed at an MS_DOS prompt.

2. FDISK - run this and set up your partitions. You can probably skip this and maybe should if you don't know about hard drive partitioning.

2a. a:\FORMAT c: (or have setup do it in next step)

3. Go to your cd drive, d: or e: usually, and run setup.exe

Answer 4

To Douglas ! If your instructions are followed it will be the floppy that is formatted.
If you keep your data is on a separate drive (ie E or D - assuming your hard disk is partitioned or you have more than one hard drive) you can format E or D without losing your XP.

Answer 5

What you want to do cannot be done without the restore disk - you can't use format to just remove applications (it formats the entire partition/disk)

You need the system restore disk or partition to be able to go back to a virgin OS

Your only chance if you don't have the disk is to see if there is a recovery partition on your HDD - if there isn't then you'll need to go and buy XP

Answer 6

Rt click on the drive and then click format.
Or from the DOS command prompt type format a:

You did say you wanted to format a floppy Windows is not on a floppy.

Answer 7

Rigt click on drive A (3,5"), click Format, then You find a command Create.... click it. This action will format your 3,5" disc and create Dos boot disc. You can't do it with CD Rom Disc.