Format hard drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter JND
  • Start date Start date
J

JND

Can anyone tell me how to format my hard drive running
windows 2000 Pro? When I try to in the command prompt it
says that its in use and I cannot force a dismount?????
 
You didn't tell us to what end but to do a clean install, either boot the
Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup disks. The set of four install disks
can be created from your Windows 2000 CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk
directory on the CD-Rom and execute makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe
(from 32 bit) and follow the prompts.

When you get to the point, delete the existing NTFS and or other partitions
found. After you delete the partition(s) abort the install, then again
restart the pc booting the CD-Rom or setup disks to avoid unexpected drive
letter assignments with your new install.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Can anyone tell me how to format my hard drive running
| windows 2000 Pro? When I try to in the command prompt it
| says that its in use and I cannot force a dismount?????
 
You're welcome.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Hey thanks Dave I new I was missing something obvious!
| Worked like a charm..........thanks
 
JND said:
Can anyone tell me how to format my hard drive running
windows 2000 Pro? When I try to in the command prompt it
says that its in use and I cannot force a dismount?????
Click to expand...


It sounds like you're trying to format the partition containing
the system volume from within Win2K. You can't. This would be the
computer equivalent of sawing off the tree limb you're sitting on, and
Win2K is "too smart" to allow this.

Simply boot from the Win2K installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

--

Bruce Chambers

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Which drive letter are you trying to format? you cant format your OS drive
from within windows.
If its one of your data drives, best way would be to goto computer
management, and goto disk management. there youll see your data drive, right
click and format. If it still says your disk is being used. trying going to
msconfig on the run line and do a diagnostic startup, then try again.
 
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