Can't format hard disk

[Guest]

I'm running XP Home. It's a mess. I've tried a bunch of things and decided to
back up the essential files and reformat the disk. It won't let me do it --
says an application is running and must be closed first. No application is
running that I can determine.

 

[Dave Patrick]

To do a clean install, boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. Setup inspects
your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to install the setup
and driver files. When the Windows XP Professional screen appears, press
ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very important (at
setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive controller
detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later you'll be
prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows XP driver for your
drive controller in drive "A")

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx




--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[GRAND_POOBAH]

Windows Home itself is running. You can't format the Operating System
our from under itself. You need to set up the CD to boot first (using
BIOS settings)and perform a fresh install. Part of the install process
will ask if you want to reformat the disk.

If your computer didn't come with a CD, then you need to ask your
computer manufacturer how to do it.

GP

--->

 

[Jim]

I'm running XP Home. It's a mess. I've tried a bunch of things and decided
to
back up the essential files and reformat the disk. It won't let me do
it --
says an application is running and must be closed first. No application is
running that I can determine.

The "application" is Windows XP. You expect Windows to commit suicide?
Other posters have explained how to reinstall Windows.

Jim

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I'm running XP Home. It's a mess. I've tried a bunch of things and
decided to back up the essential files and reformat the disk. It
won't let me do it -- says an application is running and must be
closed first. No application is running that I can determine.

You can't format the Windows drive from within Windows, since that would
leave Windows without a leg to stand on. The application that's running and
using the drive is Windows itself.

Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if necessary to
accomplish this) and follow the prompts for a clean installation (delete the
existing partition by pressing "D" when prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

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