How to format a laptop with win2k?

[rosie78]

My laptop does not have a floppy drive so I can only format it through the CD. However, win XP and win98 can format, but win2k can't. i'd use winXP, but my laptop is incapatible with it, and win98 does not have all the drivers i need. so in order to install win2k i first format with winXP, then install win98 and on top of that install win2k. Unfortunatly, i lost a disk with one of my drivers and can't remember manufacturer's name. win2k does not want to update unless i have all the proper drivers, so i end up with having to operating systems. I really prefer to have a clean version of win2k but don't know how to format my laptop without installing another operating system.

How can i format my laptop with just using win2k?

 

[beerhunter2]

Change the Bootup device order in your CMOS to:
1) CDROM
2) Hard Drive

You do this at bootup. It will prompt you to press Delete Kay, F2, F10, or <CTRL><ALT><Enter> to enter setup.

After you have done this, insert you Windows 2000 CD, and reboot your computer. When it boots up, it will ask you to hit any key to boot from the CDROM device (hit any key to do this).

The Windows 2000 loading program should now start up. After it starts up, it will give you the option to Install Windows 2000 or Repair it. Select the Install option. Then it should provide you with the option to Delete existing partition. Select this option. Then you will want to create a new partition. You can now install Windows 2000 on this new partition. It will ask if you want to format using NTFS or FAT32. Select NTFS is the best option. Windows 2000 should now install no problem.

 

[morpheu5]

It is my understanding that the stndard W2K CD setup process allows you to delete, create partitions etc... prior to install and it will give you the option to automatically format the primary partition for you.

 

[rosie78]

tHE PROBLEM IS IT DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO DELETE PARTIOTIONS, only create new ones if there is unassigned space.

that's why i use win98 first

 

[beerhunter2]

Can you boot up from your Win98 CD with CD support, but don't run setup. Change to the Win98 directory on the CDROM drive. Then Format C:
After drive is formatted, Reboot with the Win2k CD and install Win2k. If option appears to convert to NTFS, select it. If not, you can convert to NTFS after Win2k is installed by typing convert C: /FS:NTFS at the command prompt.

 

[wolluf]

rosie78 - you post doesn't make sense. Win98 CD will NOT allow you to create/delete partitions (it will offer to format existing partition) - you need to boot from floppy & use fdisk. You also say you can 'format with winXP' - presumably you mean boot from XP install CD and create/format partition? If XP will do this, 2k will also (unless 2k CD damaged). But if 2k disk damaged, why not just create a fat32 partition with XP then install 2k on that? Why on earth do you need to install 98 on an XP created partition then install 2k!!!?

So, if you need more help - please provide proper details of your setup.