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186
 
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Hi
How do I format a hard disc when Windows is scrambled,if its from the command line how do I get to it and what do I write when I do get there?
Thanks Sparky 65
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Pentium
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You can download the UBCD (Ultimate Boot CD) and burn it to disk. Boot off that and there are a number of tools on that one disc, which will format the Hard Drive, either ready for a new installation, or so that the HDD can be junked by zero filling it, so no personal data remains.
Disclaimer: Any advice I provide is only applicable in my reality and may need altering to fit yours There is no place like 127.0.0.1
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If your OS is anything lower than windows 2000 then do as FS says or just use a dos boot disk and format it.
If you want to reinstall anything later just boot from the cd and delete the partition to make sure its gone and either create a new one or install to the unallocated space
Cheers Chris 
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Pentium
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And to add onto Maygoods post, if you do it that way, you may find that you can only set a partition up to about 128Gb. This is due to a limitation in the setup disc.
If it is XP, then creating a Slipdisc of XP with Service Pack 3 will allow you partitions larger than 128Gb. I presume the same is true for Windows 2000 aswell.
N-Lite is a free program that will do the process for you.
Disclaimer: Any advice I provide is only applicable in my reality and may need altering to fit yours There is no place like 127.0.0.1
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Pentium
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sparky65 (11/11/2008)
Hi
How do I format a hard disc when Windows is scrambled,if its from the command line how do I get to it and what do I write when I do get there?
Thanks Sparky 65
If you really want to reformat a Windows drive partition, there will be an optimal approach depending upon which version of Windows it is, whether you have a CD-reading drive or a floppy drive.
With a floppy drive you can use a bootdisk and simply execute format c:/u where c: is the Windows drive and /u stands for unconditional 'get on with it' action, although you can then get misleading messages with large partitions.
The Windows installation CD (or support boot floppy for older versions) can be used, or as already said there are some CD images that can be downloaded and burnt to CD so as to use their tools.
So, which version of Windows are we talking about and do you have a floppy drive ?
Edit PS - As usual, a little more information, please.
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186
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| I also find it is most helpfull to do an FDISK before formatting, that way you can set up the HDD in either one partition or what ever your requirement is, FDISK is a simple operation to carry out, type in the command line c:\fdisk Fdisk is what i normally carry out before doing a format, as suggested either use boot disk in FDD or if you don't have FDD you can attach one via USB in newer PC'S or laptops. Or as suggested you can also get the cd's with all the required tools on, including FDISK & FORMAT. The FORMAT command is c:\format Under VISTA, you just have to put the Vista cd in the drive & that has some tools on it, like format, as previous person has asked, what OS are we taliking about & what is your pc or laptop including its components? With Vista cd in drive as mentioned, click on format before then loading Vista itself.
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186
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Thanks everyone for your reply's ,sorry for not getting back sooner ,had unexpected personel things to deal with.
Further to my query format a hard drive.The pc in question belongs to my son and is a Dell Inspiron 1501 the o/s is windows XP with SP1+2.The Dell did not come with any sort of Xp disc it was preloaded and no recovery disc.Some how Windows has become unusable,I tried to use the recovery console from my XP disc but after trying that just got the bsod .In the meantime someone has tried to reload Windows and stopped when it came to filling in the reg no so now the pc wont go past the setup screen,just an endless loop asking for the XP disc and then rebooting, can anyone help please.Thanks in advance.
Sparky
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186
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| Hi sparky, You'll need to follow procedure we have given you to format the hard disk drive (but carry out FDISK procedure i have given first, in earlier reply) then re-install Windows xp home or pro: If you PM me your name & address & i will send you Windows XP Home with service pack 2 Dell re-store disc (cd), at no cost to you. You may have to download the drivers for the Dell Inspiron 1501 laptop, either direct from the net or from http://www.dell.co.uk that would be done by you once you have Fdisk, re-format & then re-install Windows XP from the disc i'll provide you, to find out which drivers you may need once Windows XP is re-installed click on: Control panel, then Device Manager, you will then see a list of the laptop's devices which include wireless LAN, hard disk drive etc, etc if you notice any which have a yellow question mark againgst them, then click on one at a time, it will open a box, then click on either update driver or re-install driver & that should take you straight on the web, then it will search for that particular driver & then it will down load the driver onto your laptop, follow that procedure for all that have yellow question mark againgst, the main one you will need before you can get on the net will be the wireless lan driver, Windows XP may find the drivers & load them for you but maybe not, on these laptops i normally put on Vista. As a hobby i buy in, re-furbish & sell on laptops, currently the main laptops i deal in is Dell Inspiron 1501, 1520 & 1525, so if you have any other questions regarding the 1501, just ask, i will help if i can. The 1501, 1520 & 1525 i just love as they so easy to work on, you can update ram, do a keyboard change, do a screen change etc, etc easily, could carry out those procedures in my sleep now with no problem. I have a 1501 coming in this wek requiring a screen change, no probelem as i have re placement put by, but they can cost up to £100 on e-bay By the way, if you need the user manuals for the 1501 just go to http://www.dell.co.uk & as for drivers go to support, then Laptops, discontinued models, go to laptop, then Inspiron then 1501 Hope you that helps you. What ram has your son's 1501 got & what spec is the laptop? I have a 1520 put away for my son for Xmas, waiting to see his face, as he does not know that.
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186
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| Hi Sparky65, As an odd on to my last post, once you have Windows XP re-installed i would most strongly suggest that as soon as you log on to the web, then go to www.google.com then type in AVG & down load the free version, its about the 5th or 6th one down, where it says for the life of the product, but make sure its the AVG that does not require you to regester or put in any of your own detials, like e-mail address etc, as there is no need to. Or you can use another good anti-virus but a lot of people plus me USE AVG, i load it on any laptop that i re-furbish as a couple of times now i've had people ringing me up & saying you know that laptop i brought of you, i think it has a virus or virus's, i have then had to take the laptop back & re-format it & start again before giving it back as before i did not put on AVG AS I THOUGHT THEY WOULD DO THAT, WRONG!! Without using anti virus software, you would have a virus or more than one, in minutes if that, hope that advice helps you aswell, as i am not teaching how to suck eggs as the saying goes, but trying to help. As i have had some very usefull & kind help from others on this forum myself, & very much appreciated that was.
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