I need to re-format my little 20GB HD.

[PJ Perillo]

I only have a Windows 98 start-up disk, besides this MS Vista laptop I'm on.
I need to format the drive in an old desktop I'm trying to sell. Is it
necessary for me to find the files for an XP ERD?

 

[Andrew E.]

With 98,use the FDisk utility in MS-DOS,it will reformat....

 

[PJ Perillo]

It only allows me to format an 8 MB section. Am I choosing some wrong
options?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

With 98,use the FDisk utility in MS-DOS,it will reformat....

Wrong again, Andrew. FDISK creates and removes partitions; it does
*not* do a format. The DOS command to do a format is FORMAT.

 

[PJ Perillo]

Is there any help for me, instead of you guys arguing among yourselves?! I
have an FDISK that will only create a primary DOS partition of 8 MB! Help!

 

[David Webb]

Use this instead:

Active@ Kill Disk Hard Drive Eraser
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,22920-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html

 

[PJ Perillo]

Will this work on my un-partitioned harddrive?

Use this instead:

Active@ Kill Disk Hard Drive Eraser
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,22920-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Is there any help for me, instead of you guys arguing among yourselves?!
I have an FDISK that will only create a primary DOS partition of 8 MB!
Help!

Attach the drive to your XP or VIsta system. RIght-click on My Computer,
choose Manage. Go to Disk Management.

Here, you can delete and recreate partitions, and format them.

There is absolutely no need to use DOS or WIn9x tools. And it's true,
fdisk does not allow formatting, but neither does diskpart, which is the
XP/Vista equivalent.

If you feel you must use fdisk, then just delete the partition. Don't
bother creating a new one.

You can also borrow a retail (not OEM) XP install CD and start into setup of
a "clean" install. Delete the partition, then stop, or take the next step
and format it.



HTH
-pk

 

[PJ Perillo]

Thank you for something that sounds sensible, except that it will probably
void my warranty.
Conversely, it was my XP system, until I removed the other physical drive.
I had the system on this drive I'm trying to re-use, alone. The other one I
had removed was drive 0, this 20GB was drive 1.

 

[David Webb]

It wipes the whole drive clean and fills it with zeros, whether there's anything
on it or not.

 

[PJ Perillo]

Forgive me for having been unclear. The warranty is on my NEW Vista desktop
from Compaq. I am concerned that, if I open that case and do the needed
maint on this added drive, HP will find out and void my warranty. The
computer I am trying to re-configure used to have three harddrives, this
20GB, and 80 GB and a 100GB. I didn't pay too close attention to the fact
that the 100GB was considered the Drive 0 and this 20GB was Drive 1.

 

[PJ Perillo]

What I need help with is just creating the primary partition for the whole
drive! My WIN98 boot disk FDISK will only allow a primary DOS partition of
8MB! This is the problem on my 20GB. I also own a Vista laptop with a
DVD-RW / CD-RW drive. If I could get some files to download onto a CD, I
could have them read onto the old desktop and, maybe, solve my problem.
Once I can get that 20GB harddrive formatted, I have a WINXP CD to load the
system. Unfortunately, I don't think the XP CD can help me with this
beginning part.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

What I need help with is just creating the primary partition for the
whole drive! My WIN98 boot disk FDISK will only allow a primary DOS
partition of 8MB! This is the problem on my 20GB. I also own a Vista
laptop with a DVD-RW / CD-RW drive. If I could get some files to
download onto a CD, I could have them read onto the old desktop and,
maybe, solve my problem. Once I can get that 20GB harddrive formatted, I
have a WINXP CD to load the system. Unfortunately, I don't think the XP
CD can help me with this beginning part.

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation, simply boot from the WinXP 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.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

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

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Then the backed up data can be restored and applications re-installed.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[David Webb]

Actually, your WINXP CD should be all you need.

Take a few minutes to peruse the below listed tech article. Pay specific
attention to the section titled, "Perform a clean install of Windows XP", where
the first sentence says, "A clean installation refers to removing all data from
your hard disk by repartitioning and reformatting your hard disk and
reinstalling the operating system and programs to an empty (clean) hard disk."

How to install or upgrade to Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941&Product=winxp

 

[PJ Perillo]

I was able to get all I needed through the CD.. Thank you.

 

[PJ Perillo]

I was able to get all I needed through the CD. Thank you.

 

[David Webb]

You're welcome....and thanks for the feedback!

I was able to get all I needed through the CD. Thank you.