Format C drive

[Woodson]

Anyone willing to give me advice to get around to formatting my C drive (main drive) with the "Windows cannot format this drive because it contains files in use by windows" window hurdle.

1. I have stored/saved all data on my second HD.
2. How long does it take, it's 18 gig


Thanx

 

[clucas91]

You cannot format while in Windows.

What you will need to do is go into DOS mode and do it from there, however this is not the windows-bases MS-DOS mode, you need to boot straight into DOS via the windows boot selector.

When in DOS, just type (without commas) 'format c:'.
Press 'y' then wait!
It should take around 30-40 mins.

Make sure you have the Windows re-installation disks!

 

[M29]

Well if you want it to boot up without a start up floppy disk the correct command at c:\> would be: format c: /s /u

 

[Woodson]

Thanx Clucas 91

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Mate, if you don't know how to format, maybe you shouldn't be attempting it?

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

I reinstall windows to a new directory about every month to keep it fresh. The best way is to boot from DOS with boot disk. Follow these steps:

1. Make boot disk
2. Boot using boot disk
3. Go to windows directory(whether it be on CD or a copy on HD)
4. Once in win dir type 'setup'
5. When asked about install dir in setup, change directory. ie. windows is installed in directory called 'windows', make new install to 'win'. This will create a clean install, with new registry etc. Once your into windows, delete the 'windows' directory (the old one!)

You could do the simple format way but then you have to make backup of HD. I keep a backup partition for all the things that are to be reinstalled after format

 

[roofus]

Originally posted by KingyOrTheKing
I reinstall windows to a new directory about every month to keep it fresh.

You'd be better off doing a clean install and then use Ghost to make a "ghosted" image, that way you will always have a clean install with all your drivers/software ready to go rather than installing everything again.

 

[M29]

Does anyone remember the good old days of Low Level Formatting?

 

[clucas91]

Originally posted by M29
Does anyone remember the good old days of Low Level Formatting?

I used to format my HUGE 100MB hard disk all the time.

 

[M29]

Originally posted by clucas91


I used to format my HUGE 100MB hard disk all the time.

Yeah same. 120mb. LOL

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

Originally posted by roofus


You'd be better off doing a clean install and then use Ghost to make a "ghosted" image, that way you will always have a clean install with all your drivers/software ready to go rather than installing everything again.

No. I don't like that, because all the sh*t in the registry that I want to get rid of is still there. And because I'm always buying new hardware, there would be the old drivers etc.

Its nice when you can look at the desktop or search through your comp and see nothing there...

BTW - Do any of you dual boot? Ive got win98 & winXP partitions, and I use win98 partition specifically for internet, and winXP for everything else, so that I won't have any security issues.

 

[Blue'n'Gold]

Originally posted by roofus


You'd be better off doing a clean install and then use Ghost to make a "ghosted" image, that way you will always have a clean install with all your drivers/software ready to go rather than installing everything again.

I prefer to use a smaller drive for C.. or simply partition a larger one so that i have a small section for C which i then use as my windows directory only.. that way you can format as often as you like without the risk of losing any of your data that you may require later on.. that way you have the best of both worlds... a fresh format.. and all you old good stuff you have managed to collect

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

You still lose most of your programs though because the registry is replaced, and you will find that programs like word etc. don't run. Of course you could export the entire registry but then what is the point of doing a format right?

 

[Blue'n'Gold]

Originally posted by KingyOrTheKing
You still lose most of your programs though because the registry is replaced, and you will find that programs like word etc. don't run. Of course you could export the entire registry but then what is the point of doing a format right?

Thats true for a lot of programs... in my case I have been lucky that most of my programs dont require the registry settings to continue working. I have made it a habbit now to try the exhisting program after a format before i reinstall it

 

[roofus]

Originally posted by KingyOrTheKing


And because I'm always buying new hardware, there would be the old drivers etc.

Ive got win98 & winXP partitions

So how does your XP deal with continuous new hardware? Don't forget you can only add so many new pieces before it barfs and then you need to ring M$ to get a new activation key.

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

HAHAHA...I would never touch the scum of the earth Home edition......

Only problem so far is the modem drivers, I've downloaded some, but haven't tried them yet...can't be stuffed.

 

[FreeSpeech]

Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
Mate, if you don't know how to format, maybe you shouldn't be attempting it?

Leave him alone you idiot!
He will never learn if he never plays around trying, so good on him!

GET A LIFE daddy!

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

Originally posted by FreeSpeech
Leave him alone you idiot!
He will never learn if he never plays around trying, so good on him!

GET A LIFE daddy!

I agree. If you are willing to run the risk of losing all your data (ie. not backing up properly) then go ahead. Geez, you are formatting. Theres not much that can go wrong..(except converting partition to NTFS and then try to convert it back to FAT32, I will never attempt that again )

 

[jim boy]

Originally posted by KingyOrTheKing

BTW - Do any of you dual boot? Ive got win98 & winXP partitions, and I use win98 partition specifically for internet, and winXP for everything else, so that I won't have any security issues.

Yeah, I've got dual boot with win98, windows 2000 and Linux. Man, that was abit of a fight to get that going, but now it's really smooth.

I use the Win 98 for a few retro things and to do anything 'dangerous', as I don't care if it gets stuffed.

 

[Blue'n'Gold]

Originally posted by FreeSpeech
Leave him alone you idiot!
He will never learn if he never plays around trying, so good on him!

GET A LIFE daddy!

Reminds me of the first time I formatted .....

but hey... I eventually got the hang of it... after several nervous breakdowns