formatting C:

[Darkknighttt]

ok i reinstalled windows cp and all of my files are still here and im mad.

how do i get into DOS so i can format c:?? and do i need only my windows reinstallation cd or do i need something else??? also is it easy, like is there a menu saying stuff?? because ive never done this before.

thanks

 

[The Dark Elf]

no its not easy. Your basically wiping everything, if you don't prepare your driver discs, installation discs and know exactly what your doing before you do it, you could be in real trouble.. Helps though if you have access to the net via another machine for grabbing files n such if the need for them rises.

 

[Darkknighttt]

i have all of my driver discs. im just worried that itll be like super complex computer words that i wont understand and stuff. like when its done wiping out dod i just put in my windows installation cd, then when it installs i install drivers and stuff?! and yes i do have access to the internet on another computer.

 

[The Dark Elf]

i have all of my driver discs. im just worried that itll be like super complex computer words that i wont understand and stuff. like when its done wiping out dod i just put in my windows installation cd, then when it installs i install drivers and stuff?! and yes i do have access to the internet on another computer.

Well if you've got all the correct drivers and the proper version of Windows for installing from scratch (some versions are upgrade only and wont install on a fresh format) then you shouldn't have too much of a problem.

If in doubt though, what I normally do is install Win98 first, which is less of a hassle than the later OS', then that gives me a small simple working install to work from while installing win2k, also means if there's a problem I can dual boot into win98 and try fix things. Atleast thats usually the plan heh.

 

[baron insig]

i got a image of my c drive ona clean install so when stuff spoons i jsut tell it to reinsstall my pc and it done within 20 mins no hassle all drives there and nice

 

[The Dark Elf]

i got a image of my c drive ona clean install so when stuff spoons i jsut tell it to reinsstall my pc and it done within 20 mins no hassle all drives there and nice

Must be nice to be able to do that. I've never once successfully been able to use an image of any drive. Fine when I did it in win9x but win2k doesn't want to know, refuses to let me run. It sucks

 

[Darkknighttt]

when i reinstall windows it says that i can upgrade it or totally reinstall it, this means its a total reinstall right?! and how do i format c:!!! how do i get to DOS!!!?!?!?!?!

 

[Darkknighttt]

also, after i format C:, and everythings gone, do i just put in the windows installation cd and it will install like normal?!(sorry for the double post.)

 

[The Dark Elf]

also, after i format C:, and everythings gone, do i just put in the windows installation cd and it will install like normal?!(sorry for the double post.)

When you format the drive, all your doing is removing the data. So if you have any partitions, your not effecting those. You need to use fdisk to play with partitions (but fiddling with them can and will lose everything unless you know what your doing)

as to your first question, just reinstalling windows itself wont remove other files, just reinstalls itself over itself.

 

[oni_666]

To do a fortmat through DOS you ideally need a windows 98 floppy boot disk or a win98 cd disk.

Put either the floppy or cd rom disc in and reboot, It should try to boot from either of those, If it does not you will need to enter the BIOS and specify the first boot device as either the floppy or cd drive, And the HD as second boot.
(If your using a floppy you may even need to specify "boot up floppy seek" or something like that).

With the disk in, floppy or cd rom, It will boot and you will see a screen with 3 selections, Choose option 2, which is "start computer with cd rom support".

You should soon be at a DOS prompt,
If your using a floppy boot disk, then type in..at the A: prompt..
FORMAT C:

If your using a win98 cd, then change the prompt to your cd rom drive..
e.g. D:
Then type in CD:WIN98
The prompt will change to D:WIN98
then type in FORMAT C:
And your PC will format your HD using Fat32 file system.
Once completed, press enter.
Reboot, With the WIN xp disc in, and This will then boot off the disc and start to re-install XP, It will ask you whether you wish to keep the FAT 32 file system, Select NO, And choose "format with NTFS file system".
Windows will then install as normal.
Job done.

 

[Darkknighttt]

when i try to format c: it says i can't because my volumes in use. i clicked to disable the volum or whatever, and it says it cant. does anyone know what the problem is?

 

[poseyjmac]

When you format the drive, all your doing is removing the data. So if you have any partitions, your not effecting those. You need to use fdisk to play with partitions (but fiddling with them can and will lose everything unless you know what your doing)

as to your first question, just reinstalling windows itself wont remove other files, just reinstalls itself over itself.

actually when you are formatting you are only removing the references to the data. its possible for the actual data to still be recovered

 

[baron insig]

meh to get technical the fileing system ona hdd is random access basically all the data when you format isnt wiped it has a "flag" put next to it meaning that its ok for stuff to be written into the individual blocks

(and the formating jsut sets the index back up nice and tidy and defines all the sectors and stuff )-Bit foggy bout that-

But u dont need to know that!!

Just install windows onto your c drive and tell it to format your c drive and then install