HDD Won't format

Hi All
Got my new computer built up last night and went to boot up this morning but for some reason the HDD will not reformat.
This HDD is one that came out of an old computer but was a slave drive. (I have changed over the pins at the back to make it the primary drive) Could this be the reason that it won't format.
Do I need to just install windows do you think???.
I get as far as the A:\ prompt to format C: and it comes up with bad file comand.
Any ideas???

Stitch

For a friend
A Friend has a problem with turning on his computer, when he pushes the button to boot up sometimes nothing happens, sometimes nothing happens then all of a sudden it just boots. Sometimes it just boots straight away. (Bit vague I know) Again any ideas??

Thanks

 

Pete
This is what I have done so far.

1. Insert windows boot disk and reboot.

2. When the start up menu is displayed select "Start computer without CD-Rom support.

3. At A:\ type Fdisk (enter).

4. At next prompt "Do you wish to enable large disk support(Y/N)?

Select "Y" for large disk support. Press enter

5. After you hit enter, the Fdisk options menu is displayed.
Press 3 to delete primary dos partition. Press enter
Press 1 to delete ????????????partition Press enter
6. Pres esc to return to bios
Select no 1 to create a DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive, then (Enter)

Press 1 to create a Primary DOS partition (Enter)

7. After last command you will recieve this prompt:
"Do you wish to use the maximum available size for primary DOS partition? (Y) (Enter)

8. You then get a message "You must reboot for settings to take effect "
CNTL, ALT, DEL and let reboot. (with the floppy still in) when reboot is done
9. chose "Start up without CD-Rom Support "

Formatting:

10. after system is rebooted at the A:\ prompt type " format C: " (with out the " ")

Every time it says bad file command????????
I did manage to reformat by chosing setup using cd rom support and this reformatted for me. Tried to reformat again the other way using fdisk but again it said bad file comand????
It will of course anoy me till I figure out why it won't let me fdisk.
Any Ideas???
Thanks Stitch

 

It won't let you fdisk? or format?

Either way, what it's telling you is that the file isn't on the boot disk. At the A:\ prompt type dir and hit enter and it will show you a list of the files on the disk.

You can copy these files from the WIN98 CD or you can just do everything right from the cd.

If I might suggest, after you format the HDD copy the WIN98 folder from the CD to drive C: and run setup from there. This way you won't have to bother with the CD when installing other programs or drivers.

 

Hi stitch,

I think " bum disk" refers to floppy. Just make a new startup disk on a win98 machine (or download the one Pete suggested; your floppy is defective.

I agree with everything Pete and KevinSaul said.

 

Thanks Guys
Will download another disk and give it a go. Wiil be after the weekend now though as I'm off for a couple of days away from the kids. Am I lucky or what.
Stitch