can't format C: drive

[Guest]

I hope I will get an answer to solve my problem.

When I try to format my C: drive, which is windows drive I get the following
answer.

C:\>FORMAT C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.

WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK
DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST!
Proceed with Format (Y/N)? Y
Verifying 9107M

Format cannot run because the volume is in use by another
process. Format may run if this volume is dismounted first.
ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID.
Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? (Y/N) Y
Cannot lock the drive. The volume is still in use.

Can anyone help me how to format C:. I want to format my entire hard disk
and install windows fresh. Mine is Windows XP Home edition

Cheers,
Sanil PETER

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

You won't be able to format from within Windows. Please see the following
article by Michael Stevens:

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

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Hank]

You can start install process from the CD.
Windows will ask which disk to use.
Enter the partition utility.
Drop current partition.
Create new.
Select "format NTFS".
Windows will automatically format partition and continue with Windows
Installing.

Best regards,
Alexander Kutin
http://www.kutinsoft.com