So simple but still...

My computer as one hard disk/2 partitions. Here's the deal : I try to format the 1st partition but it doesn't work. I suceed for my D: drive with Fdisk (from the startup floopy disc WinMe) but it won't allow me to do it for my C : drive. I try to startup my computer in DOS and when I type FORMAT C : it says BAD COMMAND. I don't know what to do anymore.

My guess is that Bravus might have the solution for me...

Heh, thanx for your faith in my skills - I suspect there are others far better qualified...

What operating system are you using? If it's NT, 2000 or XP, it could be that the partition uses NTFS file system, and the DOS/Windows 95/98/Me format, which works with FAT16/32 file formats, won't format it. If so, you might need to make a Win2k boot disk and work from that...

Anyway, let me know what OSes are, or have been, used on the hard disk - that'll be a place to start.

Edit: Oops, I missed that 'WinMe' in your message. Now if the partition turns out to be in NTFS - or in one of the Linux/Unix file systems like ext2 - my guess will look more plausible...

I'm using WinME and the first partition is FAT32 indeed. Maybe I should try with the startup floppy of WIN98, do you think it would work? I know so little about the sudject. Is there a better option than using Fdisk?

Well, isn't FORMAT.COM, a necessary component of a start-up disk in order for you to be able to complete a format operation? I would start by making sure you have the required system files on your bootable floppy. One of those files should be FORMAT.COM. The next thing would be to execute the command from your A: drive, targeting your C: drive.

Nox

Yep, Nox, I found this:

quote:

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Oh, one more thing, if you're using a WinME boot disk, you have to copy the "format" file to the disk. Go to c:\windows\command folder and copy the file from there. WinME does not put this file on there by default.

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Only other thing is I think it might be called 'format.exe' rather than 'format.com' in later versions.

So, *_*, try that first: add the format command to your WinMe floppy and try it. If that doesn't work (and it should), the alternative might be to get into fdisk, as you did for the D drive, delete both partitions, then re-make them using fdisk.

Let us know how it goes!

In all the years I have been working with personal computers, I seriously don't know how Microsoft, et al think lay people are just gonna "know" what to do. Things like "oh and one more thing, make sure you copy the format command." These things not only irritate computer geeks, they must drive novices mad.

Nox

right, Microsoft sux sometime, especially for that Me version (never had that much bugs with a OS).

quote:

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Originally posted by *_*:
right, Microsoft sux sometime, especially for that Me version (never had that much bugs with a OS).

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I personally think "Me" is the worst version of Windoze out there. I like XP, and I liked plain old 98 better.

Nox

ME was a piece of crap.

Course, there were those that had no problems...

My understanding was that ME was rushed out when Microsoft realised that not everyone was gonna like win2k... hence the buggability of it.

98SE, was for me, far better than ME, and better than vanilla 98. I've heard of others who preferred the vanilla though.

---
Fighting causes injury

Windows 2000 is by far most usable Windows... granted, that's like saying "that's the most drinkable urine sample", but still....

The Windows 98 boot floppy is widely known as the best Windows boot floppy ever. If only the rest of Windows worked so well..

-- doktor242

http://www.vektor7.com

"Honour thy error as a hidden intention."
-from Brian Eno's 'Oblique Strategies'

Am I the only one who constantly reads the name of this thread as Formatting HO's??
Jeez.
I gotta take off this fucking OFFSPRING disc...

More trouble...

i formatted my HD using the c:/windows/comman/format.com technique. Worked pretty find thx very mucho.