Formatting C: drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scott
  • Start date Start date
S

Scott

Could someone please help me, my computer wont start up
saying that there is a fatal error so im trying to format
my hard drive and put windows back on.Im using the
recovery console and I do this but it doesnt work:-

C:\>FORMAT C:
AUTOFMT.EXE could not be located in either the startup
directory or the CDROM drive.

Type the full path (including drive letter) for the
location of AUTOFMT.EXE C:\
CAUTION: All data on non-removable disk
drive C: will be lost!
Proceed with Format (Y/N)?Y

Once i put Y and press enter it doesnt do anything and
goes back to C: I think its AUTOFMT.EXE thats not working
right but i copied it from the system 32 folder to C: and
it still doesnt work. Any help would be much appreciated,
if you could send a reply to my email address please as
im having to use other peoples computers and it will be
easier for me to check my emails, thanks.
 
The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Could someone please help me, my computer wont start up
| saying that there is a fatal error so im trying to format
| my hard drive and put windows back on.Im using the
| recovery console and I do this but it doesnt work:-
|
| C:\>FORMAT C:
| AUTOFMT.EXE could not be located in either the startup
| directory or the CDROM drive.
|
| Type the full path (including drive letter) for the
| location of AUTOFMT.EXE C:\
| CAUTION: All data on non-removable disk
| drive C: will be lost!
| Proceed with Format (Y/N)?Y
|
| Once i put Y and press enter it doesnt do anything and
| goes back to C: I think its AUTOFMT.EXE thats not working
| right but i copied it from the system 32 folder to C: and
| it still doesnt work. Any help would be much appreciated,
| if you could send a reply to my email address please as
| im having to use other peoples computers and it will be
| easier for me to check my emails, thanks.
 
Is it possible to do it without the XP disk as i never
got this when i bought my computer? I have the windows 98
disk and was just going to install that if i could get it
formatted.
 
Go to bootdisk.com and download a boot floppy image. With it you can create
a bootable floppy with fdisk and format on it. It will also contain the dos
cdrom drivers.
 
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