Reformatting a hardrive

[dirt_dobbler]

I am trying to reformat my ntfs hardrive. I have try via
my xp pro cd-rom and also from floppy to no avail. anyone
with a suggestion or suggestions.

 

[John Barnett - MVP]

Well being an ntfs file format you won't be able to
format using a floppy. Dos simply doesn't recognise ntfs.
I assume you want to reinstall xp, so the easiest way is
to insert your xp cd into your cd rom and reboot. The
setup will begin and start loading files. Allow the setup
to proceed. Setup will then search your pc for other
versions of windows. Obviously it will locate one. You
will then have two options - Repair or Install New Copy.
Select Install New Copy. The next step is when setup asks
you where you want to install the new copy. Now you can
do one of two things. Either install the copy over the
original one or, and here please read the instruction on
the setup screen carefully, you can delete the partition
and then create a new partition. By doing this you
completely remove the original partition and recreate a
completely new one. The next stage will then ask you to
format the partition/drive in your required file format.
After the format xp will continue to install as normal.
If you don't want to delete the partition you can always
install the new copy over the old one. Just select drive
c: The next screen that appears will ask if you want to
leave the file format as it is. Here select format in
ntfs. The drive will then be reformatted. Once again
after the reformat xp will continue to install.

Hope this helps

John Barnett - MVP
Associate Expert