format? (Microsoft XP)

format?
message from Bob on 9 Jun 2004
Hello everyone, I am trying to format a drive that is running xp pro and have been tried f8 and tried safe mode with command prompt still cannot format ANY ideas? Thanks in advance Bob

Mike replied to Bob on 9 Jun 2004

Think about this.. if it were possible to format the drive containing the OS
from within the OS, the format command would have to be the last thing to
get deleted.. and, of course, the moment that it was, the format would stop
and be unfinished.. the command could not be run in memory because without
the OS, there would be nothing to control the memory.. so there has to be
another way, yes?

Refer to the other replies..

"Bob" <rawhawk@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:qYidncpsUdEUuFrdRVn-iQ@comcast.com...

Haus replied to Bob on 9 Jun 2004

Hello
Are you trying to reinstall XP or just wipe the harddrive clean?

Boot from the XP cd, choose enter, choose F8, choose delete partition

Bruce Chambers replied to Bob on 9 Jun 2004

Greetings --

It sounds like you're trying to format the drive containing the
system volume from within WinXP. You can't. This would be the
computer equivalent of sawing off the tree limb you're sitting on, and
WinXP is "too smart" to allow this.

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Bruce Chambers

Carey Frisch [MVP] replied to Bob on 9 Jun 2004

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

Archived message: format? (Microsoft Win XP)