Subject:Re-Formatting my Programs Drive

Posted by: buckaroo

Date:2/28/2003 10:43:53 AM

Hi there

I was wondering if anyone new how to Re-format my main Program Hard Drive?

My PC seems a little screwed…so I just wanted to re-format and reinstall stuff to start again…

Thing is I go to format the drive and it comes up with (something along the lines of) :

“Cannot format this drive - close all applications that use this drive”

Do I have to disable something to get “access” to this drive and format it?

Maybe I don’t have access to this drive as the administrator or something>?

Please help…!!!

Subject:RE: Re-Formatting my Programs Drive

Reply by: vanblah

Date:2/28/2003 10:52:54 AM

You will need to boot into DOS to re-format a system drive

-or-

If you are going to re-install everything, just boot to the CD and re-install.

Subject:RE: Re-Formatting my Programs Drive

Reply by: ATP

Date:2/28/2003 10:54:53 AM

if you're trying to format your C drive from within Windows then naturally it won't work. this is because Windows is using files that are on the C drive and therefore cannot delete them.

a solution is to create a startup disk and boot your pc using that. then format the C drive. however, you should be aware that when you've booted using the floppy your cd-rom players may not work, depending on which operating system you're running. so, if you want to re-install Windows using a Windows cd you'd better make sure it's a bootable cd, and you have to check you're BIOS to see whether it will try to boot from the cd-rom before it checks the hard disk.

if you didn't understand a word of what i've just written perhaps it's smart not to attempt to format at all, but let someone with a bit more experience do it. :)

Subject:RE: Re-Formatting my Programs Drive

Reply by: dkistner

Date:2/28/2003 4:10:25 PM

And, just in case you don't already know this, know that when you reformat your drive EVERYTHING will be erased. So back up all your important files and software (that you don't have installer CDs for) first. This includes serial numbers, too, because not many companies like it very much when you contact them whining about how you've lost your serial number. And if you've got Windows XP, know you MAY have to hassle with calling them to get going again...so don't wipe your drive at 4 in the morning.

Get Norton Systemworks 2003. You will not be sorry. I LOVE the ghost feature and just couldn't live without it.

Subject:RE: Re-Formatting my Programs Drive

Reply by: wcreed

Date:2/28/2003 5:00:08 PM

If you're asking this question, you probably shouldn't be doing it.

Subject:RE: Re-Formatting my Programs Drive

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:2/28/2003 9:33:50 PM

As Diane noted, if you do go through with this, be absolutely sure to backup vital documents and files.

If you've never done this before, I would strongly advise consulting someone who knows their stuff. CompUSA, for example, can do this for you for a fee. Be sure, though, that your system is not still under warranty from your original vendor. Check with the original vendor first.

HTH,
Iacobus

Subject:RE: Re-Formatting my Programs Drive

Reply by: SkZ

Date:3/1/2003 9:36:38 AM

Mmmmmm? So,do you also have to back-up service packs ?

Subject:RE: Re-Formatting my Programs Drive

Reply by: Spy

Date:3/1/2003 11:20:54 AM

If you're referring to MS service packs, you can download them from the web or just choose automatic updates in Windows.

Subject:RE: Re-Formatting my Programs Drive

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:3/1/2003 1:32:09 PM

Microsoft does provide downloadable service pack updates to be executed later in addition to the Windows Update service. (For example, Windows XP SP1a for network installation.) It's therefore totally optional on whether or not you want to save them if you retrieved a service pack in this way.

Iacobus

Subject:RE: Re-Formatting my Programs Drive

Reply by: dkistner

Date:3/2/2003 7:46:12 AM

It takes a LONG time to download those service paks. If I were doing this, and I'd downloaded them to start with (and did not do an auto-install directly from the MS update page), I'd back those up too.