Formatting NT Server Hard Drive

[donahuem]

Hi,

I would like to format the hard drive that currently runs Windows NT Server, so that I can load Windows NT workstation. When I typed format c: I received an error message "cannot lock current drive". I noticed that the drive was shared so I took the sharing off of it and rebooted the server, but I still get the same message when I attempt to format the hard drive.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[johncurtis]

You can't format the disk you've booted from. If you want to completely wipe it, boot from a DOS floppy and do an fdisk. You should also be able to fromat the disk during the NT setup.

 

[donahuem]

Hod do I get a DOS floppy?

 

[TheLad]

Just boot from the NT Workstation CD and delete and recreate the partition (or format it) when prompted to. -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
-----------------------------------------------------

 

[johncurtis]

If you want to use a DOS disk, you can download the files from

http://www.putergeek.com/downloads/#dos_boot.

There are also lots of useful boot disks at

http://www.bootdisk.com

 

[donahuem]

I installed Windows NT workstation but it never prompted me to remove Server, so now I have Workstation and server on the same drive.

Help!
Mike

 

[ShackDaddy]

You can look in the c:\boot.ini file and remove the lines that reference NT Server. Then you can find the directory that holds the NT server operating system files (Probably WINNT) and delete it. I don't know what you named the folder that you installed the Workstation system files into, but be careful that you don't delete that. If you look in your C: drive while you are running Workstation, the folder that has the Workstation system files in it will have a Sharing hand under it.

ShackDaddy