stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
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Format C: ?
« on: March 08, 2008, 09:55:01 PM » |
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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
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stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2008, 09:56:39 PM » |
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[Edit: Winders '98. If that matters.]
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gleek
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2008, 10:04:04 PM » |
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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:
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Woman, open the door, don't let it sting. I wanna breathe that fire again.
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stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
OfflineWe're doomed!
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2008, 10:05:02 PM » |
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Ok, I'll give it a go. Thanks. Don't go anywhere.  |
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stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
OfflineWe're doomed!
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2008, 10:05:35 PM » |
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Wait. How do I open a command window?  |
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gleek
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2008, 10:05:57 PM » |
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Ok, I'll give it a go. Thanks. Don't go anywhere. You better get some really long cables just in case. |
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Woman, open the door, don't let it sting. I wanna breathe that fire again.
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gleek
Flak Jacket
Karma: 107 Posts: 9510
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2008, 10:06:42 PM » |
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Wait. How do I open a command window? Start Menu | Run... | command |
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Woman, open the door, don't let it sting. I wanna breathe that fire again.
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stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
OfflineWe're doomed!
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2008, 10:08:37 PM » |
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LOL OK. Hold on. |
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stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
OfflineWe're doomed!
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2008, 10:12:34 PM » |
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Invalid format; disk unusable. Those are the only 2 floppys I have.  |
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gleek
Flak Jacket
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2008, 10:14:20 PM » |
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What exactly are you trying to do?
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Woman, open the door, don't let it sting. I wanna breathe that fire again.
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stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
OfflineWe're doomed!
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #10 on: March 08, 2008, 10:23:49 PM » |
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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. |
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gleek
Flak Jacket
Karma: 107 Posts: 9510
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #11 on: March 08, 2008, 10:32:52 PM » |
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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  ) and try the first method. |
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« Last Edit: March 08, 2008, 10:34:57 PM by gleek »
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Woman, open the door, don't let it sting. I wanna breathe that fire again.
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stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
OfflineWe're doomed!
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #12 on: March 08, 2008, 10:35:07 PM » |
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Ok, is that the same as the HP Recovery Cd? (there's 2) BTW, Is that BJ and the Bear? |
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gleek
Flak Jacket
Karma: 107 Posts: 9510
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #13 on: March 08, 2008, 10:44:12 PM » |
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Ok, is that the same as the HP Recovery Cd? (there's 2) BTW, Is that BJ and the Bear? 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. |
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Woman, open the door, don't let it sting. I wanna breathe that fire again.
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stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
OfflineWe're doomed!
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Re: Format C: ?
« Reply #14 on: March 08, 2008, 10:49:57 PM » |
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 I can't get the "delete" thing to work. I'll try to find a new floppy tomorrow. Thanks for the help. 
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