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How do you format the hard disk when windows XP is already installed on the PC?

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by 4x4, Apr 17, 2005.

  1. 4x4

    4x4 Member

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    How do you reformat the hard disk when windows XP is already installed on the PC?
    I tried the 'format c:' command with windows 98 boot disk but it refused to format.??????

     
  2. rjessa

    rjessa Regular member

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    What is it you are trying to achieve? Do you want a complete new installation? You need a bootup disk or system disk. You have to boot up from there and then format disk & use fdisk command. You may want to visit the Microsoft Home website to get detail information. So give us some more info in what you want to do.
     
  3. 4x4

    4x4 Member

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    I'm trying to delete the windows XP that is already installed on my PC. I tried booting up with a windows 98 bootup disk but it does not do it because the format of the hard disk is NTFS.
    I get the message 'Format not supported on drive c: (boot drive). Format terminated.'???

    Thank you for your help, I appreciate it....
     
  4. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    1st your in the wrong forum, should be posted in either all other topics or other pc hardware. boot off on your xp cd than will be able to format your hd. also can get an xp boot disk from this link http://www.bootdisk.com/
     
  5. hogan

    hogan Regular member

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    Your question may be answered here.

    http://faq.oit.gatech.edu/0305.html

    Step by step instruction on how to format and reinstall windows.

    Be sure to change first boot device to CD in your BIOS.


     
  6. 4x4

    4x4 Member

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    Thank you for your help guys but nothing worked. I'll try again tomorrow.
     

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