please help formating my HD...

[elperra]

Hi. I am trying to format my HD but when I right click my hd and click format it says "cannot format this drive because windows is using the files". How can I format it? I am using Windows me. Thank you.

 

[slippery]

http://www.hardwarecentral.com/hardwarecentral/tutorials/30/1/

 

[spocter72]

format "C"

Were you able to get it done through the website Slippery sent you to? If not,E-Mail me and i will give you a step-by-step. You will need your drivers for modem(internal/external dial-up),audio,video,Op system disk OR iso,and a 98 or ME startup disk.If I can help let me know,,,,,,,spoc....

 

[VIPER_1069]

@ spocter72 its not as simple as that !? you cannot format a drive that you are currently running your O.S. from as elperra found out

you have to be in DOS mode to start surely !? and its format c:

@elperra Make sure you have first backed up any files you consider to be important here as this is often a good idea if you dont wanna loose that vital software etc as formatting wipes EVERYTHING from the drive

once done if you havent got one/made one make a windows me boot disk

not got one ?! not know how to make one ?! .... then goto www.bootdisk.com follow the link to the windows ME boot disk and download the file ...then run it by double clicking (good idea to have a spare blank floppy handy or one that you can overwrite )

insert the disk when prompted and this will make you a boot floppy

now you are ready ..almost

reboot your system with the floppy in the floppy drive and this will load your boot floppy if not you may need to enter bios/post to change the 1st boot device to floppy b: then IDE 0 (HD) then CDROM save settings and exit bios

when you get the floppy booting up choose to have CD ROM SUPPORT and wait untill you have loaded all the floppy settings into RAM

then when you have done this at the command prompt of A:> Type the following ...

cd c: (hit enter/return)

then type

c: (hit enter/return)

then type

format c:

this should prompt you to accept the y/n do you want to format this drive ?!

choose "Y" or yes to continue

this should format the drive for you

when its reached 100% then its done and you need to choose a label for your drive anything you want as a name or what you think applicable

now to install a new /original operating system you need to boot from cdrom so you Firstly need to reboot and enter bios again and change 1st boot device to CDROM followed by ide followed by floppy

insert you windows cd in the drive and save your settings in bios and wait for your cdrom to run and start the windows installation

dont forget to change your bios/post settings when you are finished back to

first device floppy ,second IDE 0 (HD) then CDROM save settings and exit


a suggestion here would be to print this guide out or write it down so you know where you are at each stage

good luck

 

[spocter72]

VIPER 1069; What you say is true...however this is how I do it:First you have to try to save whatever ya want on "C".Then ya need a startup disk..IE..make one by going to Start...Settings.....Control Panel....Add/Remove programs and at top choose create start-up disk.Then go into bios and first device boot should already be floppy...if not set floppy to first boot and Hdd-0 to second boot.Then I put startup disk in and start computer(cold boot) After floppy loads choose start computer with cd rom support and "enter" When you get "A" prompt,type "format C: and enter.It will tell you all data will be lost etc,,,,type "Y" and enter.This will format drive.When complete will ask for volume label ..just press enter for none .NOW heres where we differ besides bios settings:BEFORE you shut down machine,put O/S cd in cd rom and then shut down machine (floppy still in) and cold boot.This time when files are loaded to h-d choose start computer with c-d rom support and then let it do it's thing.When it's done it will give you drive letter of your cd rom and the "A" prompt again.If it says cd rom is drive "D",type D: enter to change prompt to D:\ Then type "setup" and it will do a dos scan disk.when complete it will show errors and fixed ...no errors etc move to exit and "enter" setup will now give you start up screen for O\S in windows format.....type in serials and follow prompts....when asked to create start-up disk choose "cancel" and it will tell you to remove floppy and it will load windows onto a formatted disk.. PLEASE correct me if I am wrong Thanx..Spoc

 

[spocter72]

OH yeah Forgot.....

As I siad before,you will need to re-install software for modem,video and possibly audie if O\S doesnt supply them....Thanx

 

[VIPER_1069]

er isnt what i put the same practically as you put spocter72 ?!

anyhow D: is not necessarily the default drive as partitions on the drive plus any other ide drives/roms my default cdrom in dos is I:

 

[spocter72]

HEHE ok

I said IF it tells ya the drive is "D" then go to "D" prompt don't matter whatever!

 

[elperra]

Thanks for all you replys guys. I am saving this post in my favs so I format my hd over the Christmas holidays. Once againg thank you very much.

 

[spocter72]

You Are Welcome!!!

Thanks for all you replys guys. I am saving this post in my favs so I format my hd over the Christmas holidays. Once againg thank you very much.

If ya get stuck or have any questions,e-mail me or ask VIPER