format as system grayed out?

  • Thread starter Thread starter myself
  • Start date Start date
M

myself

ok since apparently no one would answer this before ill ask in a new post.
Why i go to format a disk why is the format as bootable(forgot exact
wording) check box grayed out? Also, why is that option not even visible
under windows 2k?
 
"ok since apparently no one would answer this before ill ask in a new post.
Why i go to format a disk why is the format as bootable(forgot exact
wording) check box grayed out? Also, why is that option not even visible
under windows 2k? "

Response: myself - I responded to your original post - in it I stated you
were correct regarding previous versions of Windows/DOS providing formatting
with the ability to create a "bootable" disk/drive. That was the purpose of
the command "format c: \s" - the "/s" switch provided for the installation
of Ios.sy, dos.sys and command.com in order to boot to the "c" prompt and
was available through Win 98.

However XP uses a modified system set - therefore it only provides for
formatting a floppy to be a "Msdos startup disk". Most third party
utilities, such as the setup disks provided with Maxtor and Western Digital
drives provide for making a drive "bootable" by copying the system startup
files from the Win 98 or ME emergency startup disk.
 
BTW : "Myself" - do not believe everything you hear about the demise of
DOS - it is still alive and doing well (including with XP) - for example,
recommended way to install XP from a CD if you cannot boot from a CD drive
is to use installation floppies - guess what? it is a DOS environment and
XP setup uses a 16 bit setup -winnt.exe (I believe) rather than
winnet32.exe.
 
I understand what you are saying howeve that option, to format as msdos
system disk is grayed out. I cannot even create a dos system disk and i
cannot figure out why
 
Are you doing the following:

My computer>rt. click "a" drive>properties>format

Under format options select "Create an MS-DOS startup disk"
 
Have you tried the following:

My computer>rt click "A" drive>select "format" or My computer>hi light
"A"drive>file menu>select "format".

Under format options select "create an MS-DOS startup disk"
 
myself said:
ok since apparently no one would answer this before ill ask in a new post.
Why i go to format a disk why is the format as bootable(forgot exact
wording) check box grayed out?
Click to expand...


Under what precise circumstances (in simple terms, exactly how did you
arrive at this point?) do you see this, and what were the exact words of
the error message? You continue posting the same vague question,
without providing any sort of useful, pertinent information. Until you
do so, no one will be able to properly answer your question.

Also, why is that option not even visible
under windows 2k?
Click to expand...

Ask in a Win2K newsgroup. Win2K and WinXP have different feature sets.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
 
AJR said:
BTW : "Myself" - do not believe everything you hear about the demise of
DOS - it is still alive and doing well (including with XP) - for example,
recommended way to install XP from a CD if you cannot boot from a CD drive
is to use installation floppies - guess what? it is a DOS environment and
XP setup uses a 16 bit setup -winnt.exe (I believe) rather than
winnet32.exe.
Click to expand...


Deliberately making flat-out incorrect statements, especially after
you've been told differently won't do anything to increase your
credibility here. The CLI is *NOT* MS-DOS, your inability to understand
the difference not withstanding.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
 
It is not an error message. I dont know how i can be any more specific.
When i right click on a volume and go to format the 3rd option, format as ms
dos boot disk is grayed out.
 
Back
Top