formatting system partition

[Guest]

i have xp pro installed twice on a 120 gig hd. the hd is in 3 partitions.
c,d, and e. i have xp on e and c. c drive is a clone of e.

how do i format the c partition? it says it is the system partition and does
not give me the option in disk management.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

i have xp pro installed twice on a 120 gig hd. the hd is in 3
partitions. c,d, and e. i have xp on e and c. c drive is a clone of e.

how do i format the c partition? it says it is the system partition
and does not give me the option in disk management.

It is a system partition.. No matter where you "install" windows XP, it's
boot partition is the first partition on the first physical drive in your
system.

 

[Richard Urban]

You don't saw off a tree limb while you are sitting on it.

You don't strike a match to see how much gas is in the tank.

You don't format the system partition while you are using the system on that
partition!

--

Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Ron Sommer]

It is a system partition.. No matter where you "install" windows XP, it's
boot partition is the first partition on the first physical drive in your
system.

--
<- Shenan ->
--
The information is provided "as is", it is suggested you research for
yourself before you take any advice - you are the one ultimately
responsible for your actions/problems/solutions. Know what you are
getting into before you jump in with both feet.

Not quite true.
The boot partition is the first active partition.
This doesn't have to be the first partition. (mine is the second partition)
It doesn't have to be the first disk either.

 

[Michael Stevens]

i have xp pro installed twice on a 120 gig hd. the hd is in 3
partitions. c,d, and e. i have xp on e and c. c drive is a clone of e.

how do i format the c partition? it says it is the system partition
and does not give me the option in disk management.

Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Format XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/format_XP.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Guest]

i am not using the os on that partition. i am using the os on e:.
that is why i want to format the c:. to gain the space back. i use the drive
setup cd to ghost the os from e: to c:, you know like a back up? and now want
to delete it.

 

[Guest]

not what i am trying to do.

Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Format XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/format_XP.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

"You don't tug on Superman's cape. You don't spit into the wind. You don't
pull the mask off the ole' Long Ranger......."

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Correct. You cannot format C: as it is the system partition. This means that
the boot files, ntldr, ntdetect.com, and boot.ini, are located here.
Regardless of how many installs or which volume they are loaded to, there is
only one active partition that the system boots from. In your case, as in
many others, it is C:. So, you cannot format it in the traditional way. As
WinXP will not allow you to format the partition that contains the boot
files, you have two alternate choices: a) use a third party partitioning
utility or b) boot the XP disk and delete the C: partition and create a new
one in its place, then format. Be aware that either of these actions will
cause the system in its current state to be unbootable until you perform
some repair operations from the Recovery Console at a minimum.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Shenan Stanley]

i have xp pro installed twice on a 120 gig hd. the hd is in 3
partitions. c,d, and e. i have xp on e and c. c drive is a clone of
e.
how do i format the c partition? it says it is the system partition
and does not give me the option in disk management.

It is a system partition.. No matter where you "install" windows XP,
it's boot partition is the first partition on the first physical
drive in your system.

Not quite true.
The boot partition is the first active partition.
This doesn't have to be the first partition. (mine is the second
partition) It doesn't have to be the first disk either.

Ron is correct. I was making the assumption that anyone asking this
question probably did not think ahead enough to change the active partition
from what would have been default - a bad assumption on my part.

Thanks Ron. =)

 

[Michael Stevens]

not what i am trying to do.

Did you check all the options. I list just about every way to format a hard
drive. LOL
You can't format the hard drive you are using, you have to do it from
outside Windows.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Ken Blake]

In

You
don't pull the mask off the ole' Long Ranger......."

Is he the one who says "Hi-ho Silverg"? <vbg>