Cant format c: :o(

[steven123]

Im trying 2 format my hard drive on a different pc that i have and i get a message saying

Drive c is curently in use by another process
aborting format.

c:\windows

Does anyone know how i can find out what process in is use by drive c in order 2 cancel it and allow the format 2 go ahead?
or how do i bypass whatever process is in process and make the format over and go ahead?

ps i have sucsefully re-installed windows over the existing windows operating system i had on but unfortunatlty the same windows i had on before is STILL there !!! :o(
Which is why i want2 format the hard drive to make sure the new windows goes on!

[nicky munchkin]

Your trying to format the drive Windows is on... whilst in Windows?

When you install Windows it will format the drive.

[Fat Jez]

If I read this correctly, you are taking the drive out of one machine and putting it in another to format it. In which case, the drive letter will change, as the machine you are booting from will have its own C drive.

[Beatdown]

right click on my computer -> left click manage ->left click disk management -> right click on partition/drive you want then click on format


hope this works for you :)

i found this out yesterday as i was trying to format my old drive which i dont use but was getting the same error message.

[steven123]

well no the drive is already in im just tryna format it.
Maybe the drive number has changed i dunno

What should i type in to see? and if this machine has its own boot drive what do i type in order for the format to go ahaed?

Incidently there seeems to be 2 different versions of windows on this hard drive, i get different windows enviroments with different icons ect on the desk top depending on weather i enter a password and or click cancel on at the start of loading windows!

so amtbe the hard drive has been "partitioned" into 2? which maybe why it says drive c is being used. maybe by this other operating system?

HELP! ALL I WANNA DO IS FORMAT THE HARD DRIVE!!!

[nicky munchkin]

The Windows install disk will format the drive before install.

Put the hard drive back in its computer, put in the Windows disk and it will format the drive and then install Windows. You do have a Windows disk don't you, not a recovery disk of some kind that ships with most OEM's.

[steven123]

Ok will try that advice beatdown thanks :)

If im off line for quite a while and cant get back on 2 this forum you will al know that the advice beatdown has just given works! + im in the process of formating the drive + reinistalling windows!


Thanks!:)

Ive tried insirting the windows disk munchkin but it doesnt seem to format the disk it just puts windows on over what ive already got on! and after the installation the exact same windows envirement that i had on before is still there!

[Beatdown]

glad i could help! thats what a community forum is for!

[steven123]

when i right click my couputer i dont get the manage disk, partition drive ect options, is there another way to get to these options?

[steven123]

Ive just right clicked on (c) icon via my computer and theres an option to format... when i click this to format it says
windows cannot format this drive because it contains files in use by windows

HELP PLEASE!

[nicky munchkin]

You are trying to format the drive Windows is on.

Its like hacking away at the tree branch that you are sitting on, like you see in cartoons.

Thats the simplest way I can describe it.

[Beatdown]

i thought u had already started doing it?

whats wrong with the way i said to go about it

[steven123]

AS i said i tried your way beatdown but i dont get the options you said i should see! how can i do it ur way if the options of doing it your way are NOT there!

Of course im trying to format the drive windows is on so that i re-install windows on that same drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nicky munchkin]

And for the third time, when you insert the Windows disk it will format it, you don't need to do it beforehand.

[steven123]

YES I KNOW THAT!!! LIKE I KEEP SAYING THO, WHEN I INSERT THE WINDOWS DISK IT DOES NOT FORMAT THE DISK!! IT JUST INSTALLS WINDOWS WHICH TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR (AND IVE DONE THIS TWICE NOW) BUT IT STILL DOES NOT REPLACE THE OPERATING SYSTEM WITH A NEW ONE, THE SAME ONE I HAD ON IS STILL THERE :mad:

[nicky munchkin]

YES I KNOW THAT!!! LIKE I KEEP SAYING THO, WHEN I INSERT THE WINDOWS DISK IT DOES NOT FORMAT THE DISK!! IT JUST INSTALLS WINDOWS WHICH TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR (AND IVE DONE THIS TWICE NOW) BUT IT STILL DOES NOT REPLACE THE OPERATING SYSTEM WITH A NEW ONE, THE SAME ONE I HAD ON IS STILL THERE :mad:
What did you expect a Windows disk to do? Install System freaking 7 on your computer or something?

Or do you mean in the sense that all of your files and programs are intact, in which case you have some kind of clone recovery disk, or a Windows upgrade disk. What does it say on the disk or boxing, take a photo if necessary of the disk and/or box.

[steven123]

All i know is that the windows disk re-installs windows 98. its installed it already and ive typed in the key numbers and letters to verify its an original disk ect.

I think the best thing for me 2 do is just buy a second hand formatted hard disk drive, we can get em cheap enough!
I just thought id ask the forums first 2 see if they could help me format this one first!

Thanks anyways i apreciate everyones time + effort ect! :)

[Rambi]

Ill get a walkthrough link

EDIT :

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/win98/laptopinstall98stepbystep1/indexfullpage.htm

[Cosmo_1847]

When it comes up with the list of partitions available you should delete the one you wish to install windows onto. Then you should be able to format the drive.

[nicky munchkin]

http://www.killdisk.com/

Burn that ISO onto a CD and boot the PC off the CD. That will format like none other ;)

[steven123]

ok thanx alot for the extra advice! and links !
I will have to sort out the hard drive 2morra now coz ive got 2 go! (Im on a mates pc!)

Thanks i will let you know how i get on once i get back onto this pc and have time to read the links proper ect, im sure the walkthru will help and im sure (i hope!) the killdisk will do the job its suposed 2 do and "kill" the hard drive ie FORMAT IT!!! :o)

[Fat Jez]

When it comes up with the list of partitions available you should delete the one you wish to install windows onto. Then you should be able to format the drive.

Not in Windows 98 it doesn't. You need to boot into DOS and fdisk it.

[Beatdown]

iv'e never used 98

oh... i just assumed that steven123 was using xp.

[Tami]

1. Make a DOS floppy (ask here and I will post one if you need it).
2. In the BIOS choose floppy as first in the boot sequence.
3. Boot from the floppy.
4. Type fdisk
5. Remove all partitions.
6. Exit fdisk.
7. Reboot from floppy.
8. Type fdisk.
9. Make dos partition and make it active.
10, Exit fdisk.
11. Reboot from floppy.
12. Type format C:
13. Reboot and go into BIOS, set CD as first in boot sequence.
14. Boot Windows 98 and install.

I THINK thats all the steps IIRC.

[robpatterson]

Windows 98 boot disk, the best bit of software microsoft have produced! Use it every time I reinstall any windows.

[steven123]

Im now downloading killdisk suite from the site.
Says it will take 31 minutes!


If it doesnt work and wont erase/format my hard dive, how do i create a DOS floppy disk? obviously i insert a floppy disk into the floppy drive but what then?
I can easily change the bios so can boot from it and then follow all the other instructions given by tami.

[Forthy]

Mate,

I've dropped in on this thread a few times, and tbh it's quite clear that you have NO CLUE about what you are doing.

Please please please for the love of the dancing monkey find somebody who knows what they're doing and ask them to do it for you, showing you what they do, how they do it, and why they do it, so you'll know for next time.

Everybody has to start somewhere, methinks you're trying to run before you can walk.

</Simon Cowell>

[steven123]

Thanx for the advice forthy, i know we all have 2 start somewere which is why im trying 2 learn from the people in this forum!!!
I dont think its quite fair 2 say I "havent a clue" im not that bad!

Ive downloaded the killdisk utility its quite complex! Im not sure what options 2 activate!
Some of the options say "mark" unmark" unmark what!!!???

I thought there would be an option 2 format drive c: but there doesnt seem to be one!


Ive got quite a few killdisk icon on my floopy disk now but im not sure which one to open or run or anything!

Im just about 2 give up!!! :o {

[steven123]

Has anyone used the killdisk utility before? If so how do i use it 2 format drive c: ?
There seems 2 be an option 2 "wipe" or "kill" but it only allows me to wipe or kill the floppy drive but i wanna kill the hard drive! ie format it!

One way or another im gunna get there in the end!!!

[steven123]

Just a min ive now managed get the hard drive as an option to "kill" it soes im gunna press it 2 see what it does!

[jsnemesis]

Did you try the tutorial posted by Rambi on the previous page? Did you follow the steps outlined by Tami?

I've never used KillDisk, so I can't help you there but I'm sure the website has an FAQ, or a user guide.

[nicky munchkin]

I've used killdisk hence why I recommended it to you ;)

You are using it on a Floppy? Does it provide the same GUI as on the CD?

killdisk.com and click on Users Guide might be a good start.

[Beatdown]

one word... MISSION

[steven123]

Ive now succefully erased drive c ie formatted it! (i think!)

The windows operating system i had on is gone and a black screen comes up and says
DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

what do i do now?
The windows 98 disk is in the cd drive but its not loading for some reason i just get the message as above.
I can tho get to the DOS screen if i insert the floppy disk as it loads the killdisk utility then when i press escape it then says

A:\>

What do i type in order for the pc to start to load windows 98 from the cd?

Also i cant change the bios for the first boot to be cd instaed of the floppy (i asssume its booting from the floppy )coz i dont know the password that it wants before allowing me to make any changes!!!

Ps im using my laptop at the mo which is VERY SLOW so please bear with me!

[Tami]

USE THIS (http://vcic.com/vault/bootme.exe) and follow my directions above.
It makes a boot floppy.

[robpatterson]

From the Dos prompt try D: then enter (where D is your CD drive) should come up with a D: prompt type "setup.exe" then enter and win 98 should start. If your Bios is set to boot A then reset to C once setup has started.

[steven123]

Thanks for everyones help but ive now got a slight problem with me graphics card and i cant see anything on the screen at all!!! :(
The good news is that im now in touch with this fella who said he will sort out this problem for me for FREE :)
He rapairs pc ect he knows his stuff!!! :)