Formatting the hard drive help

[Nikki101]

Please help!!!!

From the command prompt I have typed 'format c:' and said Yes to continue. It then comes up with the following message..

Format cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. (I have nothing else open). Format may rin if this volume is dismounted first.
ALL OPENDED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID.
Would you like to force a dismount on this volume?

I have answered Yes to this and then I get....

Cannot lock the drive. The volume is still in use.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks to all in advance.

PS Keep it simple!!!!

 

[Andy.]

If you are trying to format the drive that the operating system is on, you have to do it before it starts up.

The way that I do it is with the windows CD, and then boot from CD instead of the hardisk. (You may have to change BIOS settings to make this work).

You can choose to reinstall windows by deleting the drive partition, which then promts for a format.

Windows help has a step by step guide that you can print I think or else try a google or the microsoft knowledge base.

It is not too complicated but can be a bit daunting perhaps if you dont know what you are doing.

The easiest way would be to remove the harddisk and stick it in another PC or hardisk case and format it that way.... dont know if that is an option for you though.

 

[MattW]

What operating system is it?? and how did you get to the command prompt??

 

[Nikki101]

I have done it before but a while ago.

I did boot from CD but cant remember seeing an option to reinstall windows by deleting the drive partition.

Will have another look.

Hmmm

 

[Nikki101]

It is Windows XP and got to the command prompt by going through the start menu. Sure I did it this way before.

 

[Nikki101]

All sorted thank you! It is now formatting.

Await the further problems and questions, lol.

 

[MattW]

Nah, you can't go through start menu i don't think, Windows will still be running and hence using the HD.

Restart the PC with the Windows CD in the drive, and you should get the options to repair, or re-install, then you can either format the partition or leave as is etc. I always do it this way with XP. Much easier than when you used to need boot floppy disks!!!

 

[tommyboy]

Nah, you can't go through start menu i don't think, Windows will still be running and hence using the HD.

Restart the PC with the Windows CD in the drive, and you should get the options to repair, or re-install, then you can either format the partition or leave as is etc. I always do it this way with XP. Much easier than when you used to need boot floppy disks!!!

Spot on thats the way to do it

 

[Nikki101]

Arrgggggggghhhhh !!!!

Booting Windows XP up from CD and format partition and then it continues to re-install windows but only gets to a certain point and freezes. Tried another Windows XP disk that I got today and that does the same.

Think I am going to throw it out the window.

Is there anything else I can try? Am I doing something else wrong?