Format Hard Disk - XP

[Ignorant but Grateful]

I've tried searches (as you'll see). Forgive me if I've missed the answer
that will work for me.

I want to format my C: drive (120GB hard disk).

I tried the Windows XP Pro Computer Management Facility. For my C:, both
"partition" and "format" are grayed out...even though I AM logged in as
administrator. At this point, the disk isn't partitioned - or, I suppose
it's one, big partition.

I tried the DOS prompt (I'm old-school), but of course it didn't work
because a program was running. (Windows)

I tried booting up from the CD-ROM, both by interrupting the boot-up with an
F12 and by redirecting the BIOS (F2) to boot directly from CD-ROM. The
boot-up process fails. ("F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup") This is an
original, bought-paid-for and-registered CD-ROM.

I downloaded the 6-floppy version of the start-up disk and, again,
interrupting the boot-up process (F12) or redirectinhg the BIOS (F2), have
been unable to successfully boot up. ("no boot device available Strike F1 to
retry F2 for setup")

Both the floppy drive and the CD-ROM drive function fine for other purposes.
The computer works fine too, though the hard disk has gotten so 'dirty' that
even Zone Alarm + AdAware + Registry cleaner + Defrag + DiskCleanup + + +
won't get the computer (an old Dell Dimension) running even half-fast.

Thanks sincerely for any assistance.

 

[Jim]

I've tried searches (as you'll see). Forgive me if I've missed the answer
that will work for me.

I want to format my C: drive (120GB hard disk).

I tried the Windows XP Pro Computer Management Facility. For my C:, both
"partition" and "format" are grayed out...even though I AM logged in as
administrator. At this point, the disk isn't partitioned - or, I suppose
it's one, big partition.

This method amounts to expecting XP to commit suicide. It will not.

I tried the DOS prompt (I'm old-school), but of course it didn't work
because a program was running. (Windows) Same answer as above.

I tried booting up from the CD-ROM, both by interrupting the boot-up with
an
F12 and by redirecting the BIOS (F2) to boot directly from CD-ROM. The
boot-up process fails. ("F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup") This is an
original, bought-paid-for and-registered CD-ROM.

There is something wrong with the CD. Booting from the CD is the only way
to format the OS disk.
What I do is to change the boot order in the BIOS. I am very bad about
forgetting which function key does what (and
especially when it does that).

I downloaded the 6-floppy version of the start-up disk and, again,
interrupting the boot-up process (F12) or redirectinhg the BIOS (F2), have
been unable to successfully boot up. ("no boot device available Strike F1
to
retry F2 for setup")

Both the floppy drive and the CD-ROM drive function fine for other
purposes.
The computer works fine too, though the hard disk has gotten so 'dirty'
that
even Zone Alarm + AdAware + Registry cleaner + Defrag + DiskCleanup + + +
won't get the computer (an old Dell Dimension) running even half-fast.

Thanks sincerely for any assistance.

Jim

 

[sgopus]

You should be able to boot from the CD, you need to change the boot order in
the Bios and put the cd as primary, or first boot device, if you have done
this and put the cd in and booted the pc, (without messing with it further)
it should boot to the cd, if it doesn't then you don't have a bootable cd,
and you need to get one.

 

[Rich Barry]

I still use a floppy disk to format sometimes. You can get one at
www.bootdisk.com Set the boot order in the bios to
floppy, cdrom and hard drive. When the floppy boots up into the A:
prompt just type format C:

 

[RajKohli]

You have 120GB HDD with only 1 Partition that is C Drive and by default you
can not Format or Repartition a Boot and System Partition that is why the
both options are grey out in Disk Management. Even you can not do this using
a Dos utility while working in Windows.

If you want to repartition, format and reinstall Windows then the best way
will be Windows XP Setup itself. You can use the Windows XP Setup for
partitioning your hard drive. But it seems that the CD you have is not
bootable and the floppy disks are also not working properly.

You can recreate a Bootable Windows XP CD. See the article below to know how
you can write a new bootable cd using your current non-bootable cd.

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=297

Just don't forget to backup your data. Because, keep in mind that if you
are about to repartition or format your drive then all the data will lost.

Hope this help, let us know!

 

[HeyBub]

I've tried searches (as you'll see). Forgive me if I've missed the
answer that will work for me.

I want to format my C: drive (120GB hard disk).

Unless your desire to format the C: drive is some sort of compulsive
disorder (like having the largest collection of bits of string to short to
be of any use), I presume you want to format the drive as a step toward some
goal.

Please tell us your eventual goal, because Windows cannot format the C:
drive.

 

[Lil' Dave]

Do not format the hard drive until you can boot from the XP installation
media CD...