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General discussion

how to format C ?

Feb 11, 2004 8:00PM PST

l can't format my pc,l work with W98
my pc is Pentium 2
there is NOT existing the file 'format.exe' on the pc!
please what can l do???

Discussion is locked

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Re:how to format C ?
Feb 11, 2004 8:36PM PST

Three possibilities:

A. Get a boot diskette, boot from it, and give the command format c: /s
- You can download a program to make a boot diskette from www.bootdisk.com.
- To boot from it: go into the BIOS and set it to boot from a: first.

B. Get the program from your Windows 98 CD, copy it to a diskette, and run it from the diskette. However, you'll need a boot disk to reinstall Windows 98, so this doesn't really make much sense.

C. Mount the disk as slave in another computer, and format it there. The 'however' from B still goes, of course.

Helpful hints for the reinstall of Windows 98:
- did you backup all the data you want to keep?
- do you have all the necessary drivers to set the machine up again?
- don't forget to visit Windowsupdate to get the necessary security patches again
- do you have setup's or install cd's for all your applications?
- do you know your settings, userid's and passwords to reconnect to your ISP?

Kees

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Startup Disk
Feb 12, 2004 1:07AM PST

It is very easy to create a Startup Disk which will contain the format instruction; go to MyComputer/ControlPanel/Add&RemovePrograms/StartupDisk to accomplish the creation. Insert disk in floppy and restart your system; go into BIOS and ensure the floppy is read first; answer 'yes' if you want CDROM support; at the A: prompt, execute FDISK with option #4 to see your hard disk partition(s). Execute FORMAT C: /S/U only when you are ready to erase your entire HDD. At the A: prompt once again, change it to E: and insert your W98CD and execute SETUP.

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I didn't give this solution because I feared that ...
Feb 12, 2004 2:46AM PST

Windows would be unable to put format.exe on the diskette, if it isn't present on the hard disk. Then you still can't format. But, of course, if it works, it's the easiest solution.


Kees

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Re:how to format C ?
Feb 12, 2004 9:47AM PST

The actual executable program to Format the drive is "format.com". Perhaps this is why you did not find it.

Jim