Solve : cannot format hard disk?

1.	Solve : cannot format hard disk?
Answer» I am trying to format my hard DISK and reload windows xp after it asks to continue format , it then asks to force a dismount, it then says it cannot lock the driveis this an upgrade disk...if so uninstall whyxp and revert back to old o/s then re-install whyxp.....info here if you NEED it to explain dismount and locked drive>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307881&Product=winxpwhat are you using to reformat? I usually use Maxators downloadable tool for my drive, but ive heard WinXP has on BUILT in.Ive tried to do it from the dos command prompt. I end up with the message {cannot lock drive}. Ive tried the lock command but it doesnt work { lock c:}, I also tried to format c: from the MY Computer , Driive c: , wont allow it.I converted my file systen ntfs as suggested .appreciated any suggestions,Have you attemped to use the Windows XP CD-ROM on STARTUP? You cannot format your Hard Drive Disk in Windows. You will either have to use a bootdisk or use the XP CD-ROM as a boot CD. Do so by setting your CD-ROM as the first boot device in the BIOS> Quote I am trying to format my hard disk and reload windows xp after it asks to continue format , it then asks to force a dismount, it then says it cannot lock the drive You cannot format drive C: from drive C: but you can format it from drive A: with the XP Home ... OR ... Professional bootdiskettes (They are different) and your Windows XP CD. OR you can alter your BIOS so that the 1st boot device, the floppy drive, is altered to become the CD-ROM drive and just use the CD. Can I ask you what the problem is that is causing you to need to format the drive? Maybe it can be cured without formatting. If you are going to re-install XP you should, first of all, slipstream the 266Mb SP2 DOWNLOAD (Or order the free Windows XP SP2 Service Pack on CD from Microsoft to do this) into your Original Microsoft XP CD, using the freeware program AutoStreamer 1·0, to make an .ISO image from which you can burn a new Windows XP-SP2 CD and then you can do a really clean install. If you have an OEM install and cannot slipstream SP2 with AutoStreamer then apply SP2 immediately after installing your basic Operating System, and BEFORE installing anything else, just run chkdsk and defrag before you do. Quote Ive tried to do it from the dos command prompt. I end up with the message {cannot lock drive}. I've tried the lock command but it doesnt work { lock c:}, I also tried to format c: from the MY Computer , Drive c: , wont allow it. I converted my file system ntfs as suggested .appreciated any suggestions, It is NOT a good idea to convert FAT32 volumes to NTFS as you can get 512 byte clusters and a fragmented Master File Table (MFT) which will slow your system down. It is MUCH better to format an EMPTY drive directly to NTFS making absolutely certain that you get 4096 byte clusters. I use an 8·0Gb drive to install XP to and up to three additional Logical drives per physical drive. To check if you have 4096 byte clusters run chkdsk from a DOS prompt in a DOS window or from the Recovery Console DOS prompt. Try FDISK? Quote Try FDISK? All he has to do is boot to the XP CD and format using the CD.

Answer»

I am trying to format my hard DISK and reload windows xp
after it asks to continue format , it then asks to force a dismount, it then says it cannot lock the driveis this an upgrade disk...if so uninstall whyxp and revert back to old o/s then re-install whyxp.....info here if you NEED it to explain dismount and locked drive>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307881&Product=winxpwhat are you using to reformat? I usually use Maxators downloadable tool for my drive, but ive heard WinXP has on BUILT in.Ive tried to do it from the dos command prompt. I end up with the message {cannot lock drive}. Ive tried the lock command but it doesnt work { lock c:}, I also tried to format c: from the MY Computer , Driive c: , wont allow it.I converted my file systen ntfs as suggested .appreciated any suggestions,Have you attemped to use the Windows XP CD-ROM on STARTUP?

You cannot format your Hard Drive Disk in Windows.

You will either have to use a bootdisk or use the XP CD-ROM as a boot CD.

Do so by setting your CD-ROM as the first boot device in the BIOS> Quote

I am trying to format my hard disk and reload windows xp
after it asks to continue format , it then asks to force a dismount, it then says it cannot lock the drive

You cannot format drive C: from drive C: but you can format it from drive A: with the XP Home ... OR ... Professional bootdiskettes (They are different) and your Windows XP CD.

OR you can alter your BIOS so that the 1st boot device, the floppy drive, is altered to become the CD-ROM drive and just use the CD.

Can I ask you what the problem is that is causing you to need to format the drive? Maybe it can be cured without formatting.

If you are going to re-install XP you should, first of all, slipstream the 266Mb SP2 DOWNLOAD (Or order the free Windows XP SP2 Service Pack on CD from Microsoft to do this) into your Original Microsoft XP CD, using the freeware program AutoStreamer 1·0, to make an .ISO image from which you can burn a new Windows XP-SP2 CD and then you can do a really clean install.

If you have an OEM install and cannot slipstream SP2 with AutoStreamer then apply SP2 immediately after installing your basic Operating System, and BEFORE installing anything else, just run chkdsk and defrag before you do.
Quote

Ive tried to do it from the dos command prompt. I end up with the message {cannot lock drive}. I've tried the lock command but it doesnt work { lock c:}, I also tried to format c: from the MY Computer , Drive c: , wont allow it. I converted my file system ntfs as suggested .appreciated any suggestions,

It is NOT a good idea to convert FAT32 volumes to NTFS as you can get 512 byte clusters and a fragmented Master File Table (MFT) which will slow your system down.

It is MUCH better to format an EMPTY drive directly to NTFS making absolutely certain that you get 4096 byte clusters.

I use an 8·0Gb drive to install XP to and up to three additional Logical drives per physical drive.

To check if you have 4096 byte clusters run chkdsk from a DOS prompt in a DOS window or from the Recovery Console DOS prompt.

Try FDISK? Quote

Solve : cannot format hard disk?

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