Best way to format hard drive Help Plz

[timeless]

Hi Guys
I have tried to format HDD on win xp in dos when I try and formst c: it say volume in use bla bla bla.
Whats the best way to do it
Thanks

[cgscott]

Are you planning on installing a new Operating System?

[steppenwolf]

Hi Guys
I have tried to format HDD on win xp in dos when I try and formst c: it say volume in use bla bla bla.
Whats the best way to do it
Thanks

Use the boot XP disc to format HDD. It seems that you have only one partition. In that case XP disk is nesseasary to install OS otherwise if you have more partitions you can format from windows itself.

[rob321]

Stephenwolf got it in one, cold boot (insert windows disc, turn off pc completely and re-boot if it's a laptop take the battery out first) if your boot sequence is ok it should black screen then say press any key to boot from from cd/dvd.
If not go into bios and change boot sequence to cd as first boot device.
Delete all partitions i think it says press L to delete, it gives loads of warnings but just follow the prompts.
It then says install windows to new partition and let it do its thing.
If your laptop/desktop has a driver disc fine and dandy, if not download driver genius or some other like software as you'll go blind for days trying to find eathnet,modem.sound drivers.
Rob.

[jazzipup]

If you can get your hands on partition magic i'd use that. Really good program but unfortunately not free

[dave_e-dp]

Hi Guys
I have tried to format HDD on win xp in dos when I try and formst c: it say volume in use bla bla bla.
Whats the best way to do it
Thanks

As already stated, most modern PC's will boot to cd/dvd drive. If that's no good to you WIN98 boot disk is my favorite.

[Indianaking]

Find the HDD manufacturer and download DOS disk utility.

[caveman_nige]

download a copy of the Hiren Boot CD, it's full of HDD utilities and will defo sort you out..

download links available in this thread http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums...rtition-90125/

[dk-013]

hi guys,
i have a similar problem...
I installed a new HDD in my computer so i can have two hdd's.
I did a format on the new disk and everything is ok....
for about 1 month, then it said to me when i was going to open the hdd from my computer that it need a format on the new disk...(again?)
I did it again (format) and now from the 320GB it only leaves me the 127GB...
How can i bring back every GB that is missing
Thanks in advance!!

Sorry for my language...

[nemesisdelta7]

Hi Guys
I have tried to format HDD on win xp in dos when I try and formst c: it say volume in use bla bla bla.
Whats the best way to do it
Thanks

when you type format c: its says volume in use
thats because you are trying to format your primary drive or the drive you are currently using, its like trying to burn your house down with you in it even if its in DOS mode its still your house; if you want to reformat for the reason of reinstalling best way would be to use(boot with) the xp disc (os disc) cheers

[nemesisdelta7]

hi guys,
i have a similar problem...
I installed a new HDD in my computer so i can have two hdd's.
I did a format on the new disk and everything is ok....
for about 1 month, then it said to me when i was going to open the hdd from my computer that it need a format on the new disk...(again?)
I did it again (format) and now from the 320GB it only leaves me the 127GB...
How can i bring back every GB that is missing
Thanks in advance!!

Sorry for my language...

sound like a failing HDD anyways these things carry a long warranty period, you can try repairing it with scandisk or reformat again this time dont pick quick format