How to format secondary HDD?

[Solus]

Hi,
I am running XP SP3.
I have TWO HHD's setup as follows:

Primary MASTER HDD <--- Used for XP
Primary SLAVE DVD ROM

Secondary MASTER DVD R/RW
Secondary SLAVE HDD <--- Used for data storage

The problem i am having is that I cannot format the Secondary slave HDD. I
keep getting error pop up:
"Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs
that are using this drive, and make sure that no windows are displaying the
contents of the drive. Then try formatting again"

I have also tried pressing F8 during boot up and starting in safe mode with
command prompt but still no go.

Is it possible to boot into "Real" DOS mode to run the format command?
What else can i do to format his HDD?

FYI: this secondary drive did have XP installed on it before i moved it to
the "slave" position and i have deleted 99.9% of the files thaat were on it
with the exception of several files that i cannot delete for some reason.

thanks in advance for your help.

 

[~BD~]

Hello "Solus" - I feel for you!

Please note that I am *not* one of the guru's who may advise you later,
just a user like you.

In past experimentation I've used FDISK (from a Windows 98 disk if you
have access) and also Darik's Boot and Nuke, details here:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darik's_Boot_and_Nuke

HTH

 

[Anna]

Hello "Solus" - I feel for you!

Please note that I am *not* one of the guru's who may advise you later,
just a user like you.

In past experimentation I've used FDISK (from a Windows 98 disk if you
have access) and also Darik's Boot and Nuke, details here:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darik's_Boot_and_Nuke

HTH

Solus:
Well I suppose the programs Dave mentions might resolve your problem, but
first...

When you say you "keep getting error pop up" that "Windows cannot formt this
drive." Are you using the Disk Management snap-in to accomplish this? Is
that where you're getting this error message?

Using Disk Management...have you tried to *delete* the present partition(s)
on that secondary HDD before formatting the disk? If not, this is what you
should try. After so doing, create whatever partition(s) you desire on the
disk and try the formatting routine again.

If there's still a problem, make sure you check out the disk with the HDD
diagnostic utility you usually can download from the disk's manufacturer.
It's conceivable you may be dealing with a defective disk. In any event
check it out.

Naturally you're sure you've properly connected and configured (jumpered)
the secondary HDD, right?

Another thing to try (again assuming you're dealing with a non-defective
disk), is to connect it as a Primary Slave or Secondary Master. See what
happens then.

Do you have a floppy disk drive and a DOS bootup disk, e.g., a Win9x/Me
startup disk?
Anna

 

[Solus]

Hi sorry for late reply.
Basically the HDD is fine, i have been using it for several months as a
secondary slave, prior to this it was primary master.
when i added a new primary hdd i did not format the original as i wanted to
save my user files later.
it is all configured fine, but due to my tower placement i wish to avoid
opening the case.
I have not tried to format via Disk Management, rather i have simply right
clicked the hdd icon and gone through this method to format which keeps
giving the error.

Would you kindly elaborate re: the disk management avenue to format, i have
tried to use the X to delete but then have the error "drive has an active
paging file" msg.

Forgive my stoopidity, could you provide detailed procedure re: how to
format via disk mgmnt. OR i do have a floppy drive and win ME CD but no
startup disk.

Thanks in advance

 

[Peter Foldes]

Solus

What I would recommend to do first is to connect that drive as a Primary Slave and
then try as a Secondary Master. That should let you delete the remaining left over
files.
If the above does not work then use the Disk Management route but the above will do
the trick.

 

[Anna]

Hi sorry for late reply.
Basically the HDD is fine, i have been using it for several months as a
secondary slave, prior to this it was primary master.
when i added a new primary hdd i did not format the original as i wanted
to
save my user files later.
it is all configured fine, but due to my tower placement i wish to avoid
opening the case.
I have not tried to format via Disk Management, rather i have simply right
clicked the hdd icon and gone through this method to format which keeps
giving the error.

Would you kindly elaborate re: the disk management avenue to format, i
have
tried to use the X to delete but then have the error "drive has an active
paging file" msg.

Forgive my stoopidity, could you provide detailed procedure re: how to
format via disk mgmnt. OR i do have a floppy drive and win ME CD but no
startup disk.

Thanks in advance

Solus:
Well you obviously know how to access DM so we won't go into that.

Simply right-click on the listing of the disk and click on the "Delete
Partition" sub-menu item. If there's more than one partition on the disk,
you'll be repeating the delete partition process for each partition.

After the existing partition(s) have been deleted, DM will indicate all the
disk space is "Unallocated".

Now you want to create one or more partitions (as you desire). Right-click
on the unallocated entry and select "New Partition" from the sub-menu. The
"New Partition Wizard" will open and you can progress through the screens.
Presumably you'll be creating the partition(s) as "Primary partition".

You'll get to a screen that has pre-selected the "Format the partition..."
option. Click Next, check the final confirmation screen and click Finish.
That should complete the process. (It will take some time for the formatting
process to complete.)

Repen DM and check to see all is well with the partitioning/formatting of
the disk.
Anna

 

[Solus]

Solus:
Well you obviously know how to access DM so we won't go into that.

Simply right-click on the listing of the disk and click on the "Delete
Partition" sub-menu item. If there's more than one partition on the disk,
you'll be repeating the delete partition process for each partition.

After the existing partition(s) have been deleted, DM will indicate all the
disk space is "Unallocated".

Now you want to create one or more partitions (as you desire). Right-click
on the unallocated entry and select "New Partition" from the sub-menu. The
"New Partition Wizard" will open and you can progress through the screens.
Presumably you'll be creating the partition(s) as "Primary partition".

You'll get to a screen that has pre-selected the "Format the partition..."
option. Click Next, check the final confirmation screen and click Finish.
That should complete the process. (It will take some time for the formatting
process to complete.)

Repen DM and check to see all is well with the partitioning/formatting of
the disk.
Anna

Hi,
Thanks for your reply and patience.
Unfortunately when i try the above the option to delete partition is "greyed
out" and not available.
I dunno what to do ( i knew those MS-DOS 6.2 disks would have
come in useful in the future, but i binned em)
I really don't want to have to open my tower and swap my hdd over every time
i need to format the extra drive.
Surely there is some way of going into "real DOS" and using the command.com
to run a "format?" no?
i look forward to any further help anyone can offer.

 

[Anna]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply and patience.
Unfortunately when i try the above the option to delete partition is
"greyed
out" and not available.
I dunno what to do ( i knew those MS-DOS 6.2 disks would have
come in useful in the future, but i binned em)
I really don't want to have to open my tower and swap my hdd over every
time
i need to format the extra drive.
Surely there is some way of going into "real DOS" and using the
command.com
to run a "format?" no?
i look forward to any further help anyone can offer.

Solus:
Since you do not have a DOS boot floppy disk, e.g., a Win9x/Me "startup
disk", you can create one from one of the files offered at
http://www.bootdisk.com

I assume you know how to use that media to delete the current existing
partition on your HDD. While you can also use the DOS floppy to format the
disk, the file system will, of course, be FAT32 which generally speaking is
undesirable in an XP environment. So after the partition has been deleted,
access DM again and see if you can create whatever partition(s) you want and
format same with the NTFS file system.

I know you've indicated the HDD is sound, but if there's still a problem,
check it the disk with the diagnostic utility available from the disk's
manufacturer.
Anna

 

[Solus]

Solus:
Since you do not have a DOS boot floppy disk, e.g., a Win9x/Me "startup
disk", you can create one from one of the files offered at
http://www.bootdisk.com

I assume you know how to use that media to delete the current existing
partition on your HDD. While you can also use the DOS floppy to format the
disk, the file system will, of course, be FAT32 which generally speaking is
undesirable in an XP environment. So after the partition has been deleted,
access DM again and see if you can create whatever partition(s) you want and
format same with the NTFS file system.

I know you've indicated the HDD is sound, but if there's still a problem,
check it the disk with the diagnostic utility available from the disk's
manufacturer.
Anna

Hi,
Thanks once again for your time & reply (one of the reasons why i really
like using this forum is peoples genuine help and advice)
However I have managed to crack this one!
the clue was in the error "drive has an paging file" msg.
I had to manually set the paging for this drive to "off" and hey presto DM
is allowing the format & partition commands.

I really am very appreciative of your help because until you posted it, I
was totally unaware of the DM Console ever existing.

Just a quick question before i go, would XP setup with SP3 slipstreamed on
to it provide a "better" and quicker XP OS?

Once again thankyou very much for your help :^)

 

[Anna]

Hi,
Thanks once again for your time & reply (one of the reasons why i really
like using this forum is peoples genuine help and advice)
However I have managed to crack this one!
the clue was in the error "drive has an paging file" msg.
I had to manually set the paging for this drive to "off" and hey presto DM
is allowing the format & partition commands.

I really am very appreciative of your help because until you posted it, I
was totally unaware of the DM Console ever existing.

Just a quick question before i go, would XP setup with SP3 slipstreamed on
to it provide a "better" and quicker XP OS?

Once again thankyou very much for your help :^)

Solus:
I'm not sure I quite understand your question. Are you referring to a
"fresh-install" of the XP OS? All things being equal, a slipstreamed XP-SP3
would be the way to go.

On the other hand, if you're *already* working with an XP OS that contains
either SP1 or SP2 and the system has been working without any problems, you
could just as well simply install SP3 onto the OS.

Anyway, maybe I'm misunderstanding your question.
Anna

 

[Solus]

Solus:
I'm not sure I quite understand your question. Are you referring to a
"fresh-install" of the XP OS? All things being equal, a slipstreamed XP-SP3
would be the way to go.

On the other hand, if you're *already* working with an XP OS that contains
either SP1 or SP2 and the system has been working without any problems, you
could just as well simply install SP3 onto the OS.

Anyway, maybe I'm misunderstanding your question.
Anna

Thanks, yes have XP which has been updated to -> SP1 then SP2 and then to SP3.
however i do like to re-install every so often just to keep everything
running "smooth" but my XP is the original version with no Service packs, the
problem being i have to manually remove the usb 2.0 pci card prior to
re-installing as otherwise there are "issues."

So i was thinking if i slipstreamed my XP with SP3 then as well as the
benefit of not having to open my tower, Would the slipstreamed SP3 fresh
install have a benefit of better boot time etc etc?

 

[Anna]

Thanks, yes have XP which has been updated to -> SP1 then SP2 and then to
SP3.
however i do like to re-install every so often just to keep everything
running "smooth" but my XP is the original version with no Service packs,
the
problem being i have to manually remove the usb 2.0 pci card prior to
re-installing as otherwise there are "issues."

So i was thinking if i slipstreamed my XP with SP3 then as well as the
benefit of not having to open my tower, Would the slipstreamed SP3 fresh
install have a benefit of better boot time etc etc?

Solus:
Well as long as you're going to fresh-install the XP OS I see no reason not
to use a slipstreamed XP-SP3 installation CD. But I really don't think
you'll see any significant improvement in performance (in terms of speed of
operations) as compared with updating your existing XP-SP2 installation to
XP-SP3.

In any case it's desirable to create a slipstreamed XP-SP3 installation CD
in the event you need it at some future time to perform a Repair
installation of the OS should that be necessary or you might want to again
fresh-install the OS should you believe that is necessary.
Anna