Formating and partitioning

[jediwarrior]

I have a computer that does not boot up and I want to reformat it. The trouble I have is that I cannot do it. I've never done it before, and need some simple help.
The computer has Win95. I can boot up to the SAFE mode, but can I type in Format C: from there? I get a message that says something like, there is a program in use and cannot perform the format function.
Is it possible to put these files on to a floppy disk and format and partition the drive from there?

Where do these files stay on the hard drive for me to get?

Thanks,

Jediwarrior

 

[kiddpete]

I think in Win 95, you can boot into DOS from a floppy. DOS can then format the harddrive. Be sure you know how to reinstall Win 95 before you do that.

 

[wolluf]

You need a boot floppy - see

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm.

To add to kiddpete's advice - is there anything on the hard drive you would like to save? Eg, documents could be copied off to floppy disk in dos mode. As he says - if you intend reinstalling an o/s (95 or whatever), make sure you know what you're doing and have install CD.

To format the drive - boot from the 95/98 boot floppy, and at the A: dos prompt type format C: /q. Remember, this will wipe all the data from the disk (though would probably be recoverable at thsi point).

If you want to repartition the drive, run fdisk and enable large drive support if drive is > 2GB (fdisk menu is fairly self-evident)

 

[edfair]

Create you boot disk from the system you are working with. Start, settings, control panel, add/delete software, setup tab, create boot disk.
There are potential filesystem problems using 98 stuff on a 95 system if you are planning on wiping it down with fdisk.
You also want to get the drivers to make the CD accessible before you wipe things away. You can use the drivers that come on the 98 boot disk wolluf suggested you use. Basically copy the 98 stuff into a storage area on the hard drive then copy the autoexec.bat and config.sys from storage area to your 95 boot disk and any of the drivers that the 98 config uses.


Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[jediwarrior]

Thank You for your advice. I was able to format the disk that way.
I now have another problem to add to my list of dilemmas. I cannot see the D: drive anymore. I was able to see it before the format, but I cannot access it now.

Can I put this hard drive in another computer, boot it into DOS, and then load win98 onto it from that cd-rom? I'm not sure if their will be a problem with bios recognizing it or what will happen. I'll await until I get some responses before going any further with this.

Thanks,

Jediwarrior

 

[edfair]

You didn't have the drivers required to see the CD. They don't come on the 95 but they do come on the 98.
Suggest you get the 98 boot disk from

http://www.bootdisk.com

and boot up from that, with CD support, then move to the CD (E) and run setup.
No problem using the 98 DOS to do the first part of the install, and the reboot in the middle will then start using the 95 to continue the install.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.