Formatting Hard Drive

[Guest]

Maybe I should not be here because I'm trying to format a neighbor's hard
drive running Win 98. I get to command prompt but am told the formatting
cannot start because the drive is in use. Can you direct me to help? Thanks

 

[Guest]

Boot from a floppy to the command prompt, then format c:\

 

[Guest]

Hi Roggee:

You might find more 98-specific advice here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...?dg=microsoft.public.win98.apps&lang=en&cr=US

But as long as you asked, you cannot format the disk, drive or partition
upon whcih you are currently operating. I have heard it said that it would
be like trying to saw off the branch of a tree upon which you are sitting.

PS: formatting will make inaccesible all the information on the drive. Why
do you feel you need to re-format?

Mark

 

[Malke]

Maybe I should not be here because I'm trying to format a neighbor's hard
drive running Win 98. I get to command prompt but am told the formatting
cannot start because the drive is in use. Can you direct me to help?
Thanks

It sounds like you are trying to format the drive from the DOS prompt while
in Windows. This is equivalent to sawing off a tree limb whilst sitting on
it.

To format and reinstall Win98, you will need to boot with a boot floppy.

Malke

 

[LVTravel]

Create a "system" boot floppy (recovery boot disk) using the Windows 98
system (simply formatting a floppy with the /s switch will not create a
recovery disk with format on it as others have suggested.) Then boot with
this disk. You will boot to the A:> prompt. Type Format C: /S and press
enter to create a blank C drive that will boot or simply Format C: and press
enter to create a totally blank C: drive. After both, you have to answer
Yes to the are you sure you want to dialog.

 

[Guest]

Thanks - I found a floppy that I'd made a few years back 'Windows 98 start up
".
I used it and got to the A drive prompt and typed in format c and it worked.

 

[Guest]

Maybe I should not be here because I'm trying to format a neighbor's hard
drive running Win 98. I get to command prompt but am told the formatting
cannot start because the drive is in use. Can you direct me to help? Thanks

 

[dobey]

Which drive are you trying to format? If you try to do the C: drive from
within Windows, I don't think Windows will let you.

You might be better off creating a bootable floppy with format on it and
doing it from DOS.

I'm sure if you search the internet there will be plenty of guides on this.

My memory is a bit rusty on this.

 

[latyonia]

i am havign the same problem witha windows xp what do i do and i do not have
a floppy to boot from

 

[Richard in AZ]

You don't format XP with a floppy. The Installation CD has that option when you start a clean
install.