how to format?

[optinox]

HI all,

Other than using a copy of win xp to format a drive, I'd like to know how to format a drive using dos/cmd prompt instead, I attemped to try that on my friends computer cause his win xp home was meesed up so I decided I'd put my copy of win xp pro on. I wanted to format his local disk (C: drive), when I went into cmd prompt and typed in Format C: it then said it was an NTSF file, then after that line it asked something about 'label volume disk' and the cursor was there as if I'm suppose to type something, at that point I wasn't sure what to type to format the drive, I'd really like to know how so any help would be great?

[jmebonner]

Just begin like a regular windows xp install and before it copies all the os files it gives you the option to format. No cmd line needed.

[Coolzer]

You need a DOS boot disk. I uses a Win98 boot floppy. just boot the floppy disk follow the prompts untill you get to a DOS prompt (C:\) type format C:\ or what ever the drive letter of the drive you with to format......Done

[jmh2824]

with windows xp if you just put in the cd and restart when your computer loads it will ask if you want to boot from cd..... then if you what to fix a previous instalation or install a fresh copy of xp... do a fresh copy then it will ask what drive you want to instal it on and if you want to compleatly reformat the drive

[mr_sakatumi]

Use your copy of Windows XP, Go to BIOS then select/make sure the "First boot sequence" is "CD-Rom", save and exit BIOS.
It will then prompt you to boot from CD by pressing anykey.
Then you can find your hard drive you want to format (C:\) and follow the directions by deleting C:\ and then formatting the raw partition in the NTFS format.
After it formats, it will reboot, this gives you an opportunity to either continue installing Windows XP, or take out the CD and then install from any other OS you want.

I wouldnt make a habbit of reformatting using Windows XP Home, as you have to register everytime you install it before a 30 day time period. If you don't it will not let you log in, and you only get a certain ammount of reinstallations (6 or so).

Good luck

Saka

[vikeor]

yup just set ur boot device as CD-ROM and insert the winxp cd and itll give u format options

[blubomber]

you could go to www.killdisk.com and download the trial version of the software. That will allow you to create a bootable floppy and do one pass that writes all zeros to the disk. The more passes you do the harder it will be to recover any data. But the trial version only lets you do one pass at a time. An effective way to clear off a disk.

but, this is not formating the disk. This returns the disk to a state similar to what it was brand new before any os was installed. You will have to format it after using killdisk.

[Coolzer]

well