Help need to format c drive...ASAP - EXPERT needed

M

Monkeydub

Geek Trainee
Installed xp and everytime i boot up i've got the choice of xp or 2000 OS to choose from...i forgot to format the c drive before :rolleyes: . I am in the process of trying to format c but keep getting a message saying the c drives being used. Tried doing it in msdos and get the message:
'Format cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Format may run if this volume is dismounted first. ALL HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID. Would you like to force dismount on this volume (Y/N)'...
I typed 'y'
...Cannot lock the drive. The volume is still in use.'

What can i do??? Tried closing everything i can think of :confused:

Please help, Rory
 
It's still in use because there are XP files on it. You cannot format a partition with Windows on it without reinstalling XP. So, restart your PC and you will be locked out.

So you'll have to boot up with the cd and reinstall it again. But don't forget to format this time.

There may some other way, but I don't know it.
 
How do i boot up with the cd...tried hitting return when it says 'boot with cd'. I then tried to format again and it's giving me the same message? Is that all's required to boot with cd?

Rory

Ok, i've set up the cd-rom to boot up first in BIOS but it still doesn't seem to be working? How would i know if it's booted up off the cd...message box???
 
Download a Win9x bootdisk from Bootdisk.com run the exe to make a boot disk and restart your system.

Once the disk is read it should goto a DOS prompt, from there do a format c: and you should be ready to start fresh.
 
You can format from the XP recovery console when you boot from the disc. It shouldn't be a problem because the files on the drive aren't being used then.
 
Thanks guys...sorted it. Downloaded the 6 floppy disks from microsoft to boot up from. Think i've got a dodgy cd drive - artec. Just read some bad reviews on it too...don't think it helped my situation.

Rory
 
Did you not post asking for advice on a NEC 3500A?

Artec's drives are incredibly bad, had non stop problems with the one's i've used.
 
Yeah i posted the NEC post. Have sent the artec drive back and am upgrading to the 3500a drive. Having that drive has caused me a real headache.

Rory
 
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