2007-09-16 12:03:06 · 6 answers · asked by Anderson C 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Add-ons
You cannot format a drive which windows is using, and windows is running from that drive. You need to either reinstall windows, or you need to get a HD with windows on it, make that the main HD, and connect yours as a "slave" and format it blank.
2007-09-16 12:10:55 · answer #1 · answered by Phil McCracken 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you can format c drive as long as its not being used by windows xp ,this can be done by either right clicking the local disk c icon on my computer and selecting format,the select file system:ntfs and then quick format>start
however if theres a old installation of windows on that drive,and even if you current windows is on another drive letter such as local disk d windows may refuse to format the c drive and will prompt a message"windows was unable to complete the format"
the next best method is to download a windows 98 or millenium start up disk from http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and making sure your p.c is set to boot from floppy disk(press delete at start up and choose advanced bios features and then slect the first boot device as floppy/remember to save and exit set up to save any changes to cmos)
then when the windows start up disk has fully loaded(remember to choose "with cd rom support"),you will see a command prompt ,then just type in format c: were c is the drive letter
you will be asked if you are sure you wish to fromat this drive,just choose yes or no,depending on the hard drives capacity this can take from 5 minutes to anything up to an hour
if you wish to see whats on a specific drive in dos,then type in the drive letter and press return,the default "a" prefix will change to the chosen drive letter,then type in c:/dir (were c is the drive letter),you will then see what files(inlcuding hidden) are on that specific drive
the windows start up disk is also handy for partitioning and unpartitioning drives using the command prompt fdisk
type fdisk and allow for "large disk support",you can the create and delete partitons and also set partitions active"
any problems let me know
good luck mate!
2007-09-17 03:08:19 · answer #2 · answered by brianthesnail123 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's reported to tutor off your firewall, antivirus and antispyware while installation. If that's taking 50 hours to place in from abode windows replace internet site, some thing is definately incorrect. i could order the cd from Microsoft. in case you have the acquire already on your computing gadget, then that's yet another situation. without greater strategies nevertheless that's dificult to steer you to the subsequent step.
2016-11-14 15:22:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you haven't got the installation cd don't format it otherwise your not going to have an operating system on their.
2007-09-16 12:27:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can, but without the CD you won't reinstall it.
If you have a floppy drive, download a bootdisk from
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
Boot to your floppy, and run fdisk
2007-09-16 12:11:08 · answer #5 · answered by Michael H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
DOS
2007-09-16 12:10:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋