When FDISK and FORMAT do not work.

[Guest]

This should be such a simple process I'm trying to complete, but all I seem
to be able to do if bump into roadblock after roadblock. I hate coming to
the community for such a simple problem, but the solution doesn't seem to be
so simple.

I want to boot onto a floppy disk. Then I want to run the DOS FDISK and
FORMAT on the C:\> drive. On another computer, I'm running XP Home Edition.
From the XP machine, I'm creating a Boot Disk. This successfully boots the
new machine to the A:\> drive. So far so good.

Now I want to run the DOS FDISK and FORMAT. The FDISK program doesn't exist
on the hard drive nor on the XP CD-ROM. The version of FORMAT that does
exist on the XP machine is a DOS program, but when I copy it to a floppy and
run it on the new PC, I get a message that this version of FORMAT will not
run in DOS mode.

Anything I can find in the KB tells me everything I ever wanted to know
about how to run FDISK and FORMAT except where to find them when they don't
exist. Can anyone tell me how I can partion and format the hard drive of a
new PC without using the XP CD-ROM...and when FDISK and FORMAT are not
present on the XP CD?

Thanks.

 

[Doug Knox - [MS-MVP]]

http://www.bootdisk.com Here you can download complete floppy boot disk
images and the tools to create them. The boot disk that XP creates is
effectively useless.

 

[DL]

Just curious; why do you not wish to use the winxp cd?

 

[Guest]

I want to do this because it's an old computer and I'm taking it to the
thrift shop. I've reinstalled this license of Windows on another PC and
don't want an illegal copy out there. When someone buys this computer from
the thrift shop I want them to install their own copy of Windows.

The previous post provided me with a website. I was able to create a DOS
boot diskette that allowed me to FDISK and FORMAT the hard drive on this
computer.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Doug. This was EXACTLY what I needed. I appreciate the suggestion.

 

[Microsoft MVP]

Yeah, the way you are trying to do it doesn't work anymore. FDisk and
format don't work anymore in the traditional way. There are versions of DOS
that will do it, but not Microsoft DOS. I believe it is either DR DOS
(Digital Research) or IBM DOS, not MS DOS.
This is in large part due to NTFS and its inherent security measures. Also,
Microsoft doesn't want people to be able to do this anymore.

 

[DL]

There is no need to install winxp in order to partition & format
Once the winxp cd has completed the delete partitions/create/format you
simply quit the installation

 

[Doug Knox - [MS-MVP]]

You're welcome

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart
Display\Security
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com

 

[Bruce Chambers]

This should be such a simple process I'm trying to complete, but all I seem
to be able to do if bump into roadblock after roadblock. I hate coming to
the community for such a simple problem, but the solution doesn't seem to be
so simple.

It actually is fairly simple, once you forget about MS-DOS and start
using WinXP's tools. They're two entirely separate and mutually
exclusive operating systems.

I want to boot onto a floppy disk. Then I want to run the DOS FDISK and
FORMAT on the C:\> drive.

Then you'll need to acquire and place the MS-DOS programs FDISK and
Format on the diskette.

On another computer, I'm running XP Home Edition.
From the XP machine, I'm creating a Boot Disk. This successfully boots the
new machine to the A:\> drive. So far so good.

Now I want to run the DOS FDISK and FORMAT. The FDISK program doesn't exist
on the hard drive nor on the XP CD-ROM.

No, of course not. FDisk is an old MS-DOS utility that is neither
available or needed in WinXP.

The version of FORMAT that does
exist on the XP machine is a DOS program, but when I copy it to a floppy and
run it on the new PC, I get a message that this version of FORMAT will not
run in DOS mode.

Naturally. Why would you even expect an application, regardless of the
name, from one operating system to work under a completely different
operating system?

Anything I can find in the KB tells me everything I ever wanted to know
about how to run FDISK and FORMAT except where to find them when they don't
exist. Can anyone tell me how I can partion and format the hard drive of a
new PC without using the XP CD-ROM...and when FDISK and FORMAT are not
present on the XP CD?

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)


--

Bruce Chambers

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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[David B.]

Fdisk and Format work just fine on OS's that include them, however fdisk is
not part of XP, diskpart is.
Microsoft doesn't want people to partition and format their own drives? Are
you privy to some insider information I'm not aware of?

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[Microsoft MVP]

By "not doing this anymore" I meant to maintain the integrity of the NTFS
file system. They don't want people to be able to boot from DOS (via a
floppy for instance) and partition and/or format and/or manipulate files
using a command line or the like.