GolfHos

Trying to wipe out my old PC and and restore.

When I type in "format c:"  it says C drive in use by another process.  Aborting format.

What do I do?

TIA

[Edit:  Winders '98.  If that matters.]

You'll need a floppy disk. Open up a command window and type:

format a: /s

This will make the floppy bootable. Reboot with the disk still in the floppy drive. After it reboots, type (from the command prompt):

format c:

Ok, I'll give it a go.  Thanks.  Don't go anywhere.  :D

Wait.  How do I open a command window?  :P

You better get some really long cables just in case.

Start Menu | Run... | command

LOL  OK.  Hold on.  :D

Invalid format; disk unusable.   

Those are the only 2 floppys I have.  :sad3:

What exactly are you trying to do?

Meh.  Long story long.  Madolyn has discovered the digital age.  She now wants to be online.  Hasno't been much of a prob. until the last moth or so, and now we are competing for computer time.  Whenever I want on, she is and Vise Versa.

So I pulled out/dusted off our "old" PC.  HP  Pavilion Celeron 466 MGH.  Been in the closet.  Today I bought a wireless dealie antenna thing, and installed it, got it up and running [pat on back smiley] every thing is basically fine. 

Thing is, this PC is.........how many years ago was '98?  12?  Anyhoo, it goes back to our first computer, and all the stuff I really *fudge*ed up trying to be Bill Gates.  Our oldest daughter tried to ruin with "Morpheus".  Still wants a windows password at boot up, and on, and on.

I just wanted to wipe it clean, so it would run easy and smooth for her, with minimum "crap", so she could turn it on, surf "webkinz";  Without hearing "Dad, do I have to?.......what is?  It's stuck" etc.

I figured sending it down Terminator style would be the best way.

If you have the original Win98 installation CD, it might be a bootable CD. What you'll have to do is change the boot sequence so the BIOS attempts to boot to CD first instead of to the HD. You'll need to reboot and hold the DEL key, and it should go into the CMOS. From there, navigate through the menus until you see something about the boot sequence. Change it so that CD is first (or at least before the HD). If the floppy is 1st, that's fine, but then the CD needs to be 2nd. Save the settings and reboot with the Windows CD in the CD drive. During the setup process, it should give you an option to reformat the HD.

Otherwise, you can go buy a couple of floppies tomorrow (if they still sell those things  ;D) and try the first method.

Ok, is that the same as the HP Recovery Cd?  (there's 2)

BTW, Is that BJ and the Bear?   :D

Yeah, you could probably use that CD to boot with. Give it a shot. Try rebooting the computer with that CD in the drive first before mucking around with the CMOS. It might already be set up to try booting from CD before the HD.

Yup, it's BJ and the Bear.

5AsqKQptTdQ

 :-[  I can't get the "delete" thing to work.  I'll try to find a new floppy tomorrow. :sad3:

Thanks for the help.   [sm_thumbsup2]

Translation: Make absolutely certain that his kid doesn't stumble on some 1998 Vintage pröño that might continue to reside somewhere on that computer.

 [sm_laughatyou] [sm_hump][sm_oops] [sm_scratch] :fear: [sm_dunno] [sm_laughing]

(http://www.sensesofcinema.com/images/directors/05/37/invisible_man.jpg)

if you download and make a ubuntu  live disc   (assuming the machine in question is cd bootable)  you can format and install ubuntu on there with it.
 ;D

I second Aske. Ubuntu is really not as scarry as you might think. If all she is going to be using the computer for is internet/email this is a very good option. On the plus side being she is still younger she will be exposed to the new operating system and that might/probably will help her in the future, especially in college.

I'm going to let Jules handle this one.

Okay this is how I would handle it.
1. Get a large brick.
2. Throw it as hard as you can through the monitor. (there there, dosen't that feel good.)
3. Go to computer shop, stand there and look confused and wait for an 18year old to come and serve you.
4. Go home with new computer, ring up a friend and ask them to install it for you.

How easy was that. ;D ;D ;D ;D

(http://www.shakewellbeforeuse.com/images/geeksqud.jpg)











Ah, *feces*.
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1166/1454018245_5986b5e6c1.jpg)

Have you boys any other problems that you need me to sort out. ;D ;D ;D

Well, as long as you're asking........ [sm_naughty]

What.....you can't stop you eyebrows from moving up and down. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

They're synchronized to the tugging.  Help him before he goes blind.

What about if I give him the phone number of Mrs Palmer and her five daughters, do you think that would help him. ;D ;D ;D

Whoops I forgot,  its Mrs Palmer and her daughters doing the tugging. ;D ;D ;D


Everyman on earth should be blind if that was the case. ;D ;D ;D ;D

Can you post that again in a larger font, please?

3rd for Ubuntu. 8) Contrary to popular belief, ;) Linux actually does a lot of things easier than Windows does.

8)