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Question

cannot format xp pc

Dec 2, 2012 4:18AM PST

I have deleted the c drive partition and i am trying to format it using NTFS with a XP pro cd. However the format progress bar stays on 0%. I have also tried to use Norton partion magic to format but with no success.
Any suggestions!?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: formatting
Dec 2, 2012 4:22AM PST

You can't format a deleted partition. You can only format an existing partition. So your story isn't complete.

What disk (SATA, IDE?), how big the disk, how big the partition, what version of XP (original, SP1, SP2, SP3)?
How did you delete the partition? How did you create the new partition (if you did)?
Why did you delete the partition?

Kees

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Answer
Bad hard drive?
Dec 2, 2012 4:25AM PST

I'd see if I could find something else to boot from to see if that could format it, but it sounds like your hard drive has a problem. Among things to try would be a Windows Vista or Windows 7 install disc, a Windows 7 repair disc, a UBCD disc (you can download UBCD here), etc. If you should have to replace it, they've gotten pretty inexpensive. You can buy them from $50 and up

What prompted you to want to format it?

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Answer
You "Deleted" The C Partition??
Dec 2, 2012 4:30AM PST

If you've done such, you will need to create a new C: partition (or any other letter designation), in order for XP to correctly format it..

Or possibly, if the computer originally contained Vista or Windows 7, then it's possible you have an issue with the SATA hard drive.. Unfortunately, you haven't told us enough to make a decision on such.

Or maybe you didn't actually "delete" the partition but instead wiped the contents from the C drive, then assuming you can boot from the XP cd corrrectly, and you are following the basic instructions in the link below, if the disc won't correctly format the C: drive, you probably should get a new drive.

Or, if you choose, you could use a disc wiper, such as Dban, to wipe everything from the drive, then boot from the XP disc, create a new C: drive, then install the operating system.

Hope this helps and let us know more.

Grif

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Answer
Format using Win 98 CD
Dec 4, 2012 8:36PM PST

Try to make partition & format CD using 98 CD.

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That's a bad idea
Dec 4, 2012 9:19PM PST

Windows 98 doesn't know about NTFS. Only small FAT32 partitions.

Kees

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Not a bad idea
Dec 5, 2012 6:41PM PST

It's not a bad idea.
I have done it using 98 CD.
Delete partition & format (FAT32) using 98 CD, it will rectify some issues of old hard disk. Then format using XP cd to install.

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Re: not a bad idea.
Dec 5, 2012 6:53PM PST

Most 98 disks weren't bootable. You needed a floppy with fdisk and format to boot from for Windows 98.
And there's a maximum disk and partition size supported, which is rather small for current use.
And most people won't have a Win98 disk.

Moreover, it isn't clear at all why the Win98 format would work if the XP format and the Partiton Magic format fail. In fact, the OP didn't tell anything about the error message that turned up. He didn't even give any answer to all our suggestions.
My guess is that it's a hardware issue, but it's impossible to tell without having the details.

Kees

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Most 98se CDs were bootable.
Dec 6, 2012 12:43AM PST

But this advice is not for everyone. For most folk an cranky old disk is bad news. I've encountered the persons who try to save old gear and those that get the machines are thankful at first then curse then as the machine wipes out their files.

I guess backup is a learned thing and can't always be taught.
Bob