Format hard disk

having some problems with my PC which has two HDs and have moved all the bits I want to keep from the System drive to disk 2. I now would like to Format drive 1 and reinstall th OS on a clean drive. If I try to use the format facility, it won't let me format a diskj running and programme. How can I format a drive which contains an OS that I want to wipe? In Win 98 I could have used the DOS prompt to do it.

 

bg9208, unplug the hdd having your data and boot from cd. Then proceed as if fresh install.

 

I am assuming that you are using XP? If so, just set your BIOS to boot from the CD drive first put in the Windows CD and go from there. If you wanted to wipe the drive and make it look like it was new, you can go to the manufacture of the HD and get a utility that will fit on a Floppy and do a wipe by writing 0 (zero) to the HD with it. Then install the OS. I would unplug the other HD first before doing this...

 

Hello bg9208,

You can get a wipe utility but not neccessary with XP - it will format the partititon/drive for you if you follow rsinfo's post.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Regards - Charles