2nd hard drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter jbdives
  • Start date Start date
J

jbdives

I installed a second hard drive (slave) that had Windows
XP installed. All works ok, but I want to format the
hard drive and start clean. Everytime I attempt to
format this drive, I get a message that I cannot format
because the drive is in use. I don't see how it can be
in use because there is nothing left on it except that
copy of xp I can't get rid of. I'm booted off the Master
hard drive which also has XP installed.

Any ideas how I can format this second hard drive?

jb
 
jbdives said:
I installed a second hard drive (slave) that had Windows
XP installed. All works ok, but I want to format the
hard drive and start clean. Everytime I attempt to
format this drive, I get a message that I cannot format
because the drive is in use. I don't see how it can be
in use because there is nothing left on it except that
copy of xp I can't get rid of. I'm booted off the Master
hard drive which also has XP installed.

Any ideas how I can format this second hard drive?

jb
Click to expand...

Boot to a bootable MS-DOS floppy that has DOS's FDISK program on it; in
this way, the second drive won't be 'in use'. MS-DOS won't be able to
read the file structure on the second hard drive, but it will be able to
recognize the fact that it has a non-DOS partition on it, and thus will
be able to delete the partition.

Using FDISK, delete the partition on the second hard drive - be careful
you don't delete the partition from the hard drive you want to keep! It
might be a good idea to temporarily remove the IDE or power cable from
the drive that you want to keep to be sure you don't accidentally delete
the data or partition on it.

Then, you should be able to reconnect everything and use XP to
repartition and reformat the second drive.

--
The reader should exercise normal caution and backup the Registry and
data files regularly, and especially before making any changes to their
PC, as well as performing regular virus and spyware scans. I am not
liable for problems or mishaps that occur from the reader using advice
posted here. No warranty, express or implied, is given with the posting
of this message.
 
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