format in XP

Silvio 72 · 05-05-2003, 05:59 PM

Hi all,
I need to format my C: disk
I have fone this before, but seems not to work with XP.
I made the boot floppy disk, but when i tried to put "format c:", etc it doesnt work! , it says bad command
Why?
What changed?

esdxc37 · 05-05-2003, 06:23 PM

why do you need to format this is usually a last port of call not the 1st

RipperRoo · 05-05-2003, 07:16 PM

windows xp no longer uses dos in its boot disc so the old dos commands dont work.
in order to format your C: drive you will need to use your windows xp cd rom and boot from that.

put the xp cd in your cd drive then reboot, your pc should give you the option to boot from cd rom,. if it doesnt either the BIOS is set to ignore the cd drive on boot or the cd is damaged.

once you boot from cd (after changing the bios if needed)
windows will give you several options, navigate your way thru the menus until you come to the hard drive. (I would give you exact step by step instructions but dont currently run xp)
in order to format the drive you will need to deleate it and create another in its place, make sure you select the right drive to delete.

once the drive is blank , select it as the drive to set windows up on and windows will format the drive for you in the type of your choice (fat 32 or ntfs) then carry on and install windows.
if you want to install a diferent operating systen you can exit at this point.

WARNING If you intend to install an earlyer version of windows (98 me or 2k) your system WILL hang up on install for a very very long time while the differences in allocation tables between the versions are sorted out. if you do intend on using 98 or me, i recomend reformating c using a boot floppy set up for the os you want to use, as its a lot less scary than looking at a frozen screen for an hour.

NOTE: any of the above instructions are followed at your own risk, by doing this you will be erasing your operating system and everything else on drive c: .

I recomend using the xp cd to format c even if you are going to install 98/me because 98/me boot floppys cannot read NTFS drives, so therefore shows the first FAT32 drive as C: no matter where the partition/hard drive is located or what its was named within xp

****comming soon - this post as a how 2*****

cpugeniusmv · 05-09-2003, 06:44 PM

or you could just make a boot floppy and copy format.com to it, then boot from it and type format C:

format.com is loacted in C:\windows\system32

LPDad · 05-09-2003, 10:41 PM

The EASIEST and SAFEST way to format..is to use a DISKTOOLs set provided by the manuf. of your harddrive.

I have seagate HDs and their Seagate tools disk will allow you to do lots of nifty stuff, like repartition and REFORMAT.

I also have a WestDigital tools set that will do the same.

If you need more help..please provide the mnfr and model of the harddrive you wish to format..I can probably find the correct tools on the drive mnfr website.

This is by far easier than using the XP disc

05-05-2003, 05:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Silvio 72 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Venus Isle Posts: 35	format in XP Hi all, I need to format my C: disk I have fone this before, but seems not to work with XP. I made the boot floppy disk, but when i tried to put "format c:", etc it doesnt work! , it says bad command Why? What changed? __________________

05-05-2003, 07:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
RipperRoo AdMiN oF RoCk! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: uk Posts: 2,080	windows xp no longer uses dos in its boot disc so the old dos commands dont work. in order to format your C: drive you will need to use your windows xp cd rom and boot from that. put the xp cd in your cd drive then reboot, your pc should give you the option to boot from cd rom,. if it doesnt either the BIOS is set to ignore the cd drive on boot or the cd is damaged. once you boot from cd (after changing the bios if needed) windows will give you several options, navigate your way thru the menus until you come to the hard drive. (I would give you exact step by step instructions but dont currently run xp) in order to format the drive you will need to deleate it and create another in its place, make sure you select the right drive to delete. once the drive is blank , select it as the drive to set windows up on and windows will format the drive for you in the type of your choice (fat 32 or ntfs) then carry on and install windows. if you want to install a diferent operating systen you can exit at this point. WARNING If you intend to install an earlyer version of windows (98 me or 2k) your system WILL hang up on install for a very very long time while the differences in allocation tables between the versions are sorted out. if you do intend on using 98 or me, i recomend reformating c using a boot floppy set up for the os you want to use, as its a lot less scary than looking at a frozen screen for an hour. NOTE: any of the above instructions are followed at your own risk, by doing this you will be erasing your operating system and everything else on drive c: . I recomend using the xp cd to format c even if you are going to install 98/me because 98/me boot floppys cannot read NTFS drives, so therefore shows the first FAT32 drive as C: no matter where the partition/hard drive is located or what its was named within xp **comming soon - this post as a how 2* __________________ PcTechtalk.com Admin** A7V8X xp2600 Barton SLK 97U, GeForce FX 5700, 1GB 2700DDR Ram Sony DVD -R/+R/RW, SB Live 5.1 Digital, 1 x 30gb 3 x 200GB 2x120GB 1 x 250GB HDD'S, 19" TFT Epson R265 HP NX6125 Laptop 1gb memory http://www.minotaur-computers.co.uk/

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05-05-2003, 06:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
esdxc37 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 20	why do you need to format this is usually a last port of call not the 1st

05-09-2003, 06:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
cpugeniusmv Computer Genius Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 291	or you could just make a boot floppy and copy format.com to it, then boot from it and type format C: format.com is loacted in C:\windows\system32

05-09-2003, 10:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
LPDad Admin & "Fixer" Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 2,293	The EASIEST and SAFEST way to format..is to use a DISKTOOLs set provided by the manuf. of your harddrive. I have seagate HDs and their Seagate tools disk will allow you to do lots of nifty stuff, like repartition and REFORMAT. I also have a WestDigital tools set that will do the same. If you need more help..please provide the mnfr and model of the harddrive you wish to format..I can probably find the correct tools on the drive mnfr website. This is by far easier than using the XP disc