problems formatting c drive

[Guest]

i can't get my friend's hard drive to format. i go to the command prompt and
type:

format c:

and it asks if i'm sure i want to format and i type "y" and then it says
that the volume is being used by another process. it asks if i want to force
it, i say "y" and it says that drive will not lock, still in used by another
process.

so i type:

format c: /x

and it still does the same thing. the only thing i can think of is to be
doing this when windows isn't running, but i can't get into a comand prompt
mode without running windows. any help?

 

[Jim]

You are asking Windows to commit suicide!!

If the partition is Fat32, boot up with a Win98 boot up
disc then format drive.
If NTFS, boot up using WinXP installation CD which gives
you the option to format drive.

 

[Guest]

i have the same problem. i have just installed xp over 98 and changed from
fat32 to ntfs. i backed up my stuff to cd and wanted a completely fresh
install but the entire 10 gb from 98 is still on the drive. i have 2 sets of
program files now but the old stuff is virtually inaccessible. i can get in
through explorer but i cant use any of the programs through the current xp.
its a nightmare at the mo. i tried a good old fashioned reformat but can't
get anywhere. the xp installation doesn't give an option to reformat as Jim
says. All i want to do is wipe the slate clean and start from scratch but it
keeps getting worse every time i try to reinstall. can anybody offer a step
by step solution?

 

[Michael Stevens]

i can't get my friend's hard drive to format. i go to the command prompt
and
type:

format c:

and it asks if i'm sure i want to format and i type "y" and then it says
that the volume is being used by another process. it asks if i want to
force
it, i say "y" and it says that drive will not lock, still in used by
another
process.

so i type:

format c: /x

and it still does the same thing. the only thing i can think of is to be
doing this when windows isn't running, but i can't get into a comand
prompt
mode without running windows. any help?

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

 

[Alex Nichol]

i can't get my friend's hard drive to format. i go to the command prompt and
type:

format c:

and it asks if i'm sure i want to format and i type "y" and then it says
that the volume is being used by another process. it asks if i want to force
it, i say "y" and it says that drive will not lock, still in used by another
process.

so i type:

format c: /x

and it still does the same thing. the only thing i can think of is to be
doing this when windows isn't running, but i can't get into a comand prompt
mode without running windows. any help?

You cannot cut off the branch of the tree that you are sitting on (well
not in safety).

You can only do it as part of a reinstall of the system after booting
the XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the license agreement take New
Install. When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC; select and delete
the current partition and make a new RAW one to be formatted at the next
stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one