format hard disk

[bfeagin]

I have a 5.2gig hard drive and would like to clean off all the files on it. I have tried to boot from a floppy and use ,'format c:\', but it stops after about 10% finished. I sure would like to know how to format it. Also will,'format c:\q', remove all the files?

[arn]

Can't quite remember, its been a while but,
shouldn't you type "format c: /u" ? Should be a space after the colon and the slash the other way. "U" means unconditional. I think this means no unformatting.

arn

[alien_from_io]

Type format c: /s , you didn't say what os. 98, 95? To do 95, you need a 98 disc to transfer the generic cd rom drivers, that's part of the "s". make sure you put a space between the c: and the /s. Do you want to totally erase the disc,, if so there is another step needed. hope this helps, Take me to your leader.

[Jinx67]

Use your startup floppy. At the "A:/" prompt Type in "fdisk". Remove all Partitions then create a new one. Shut down Use your boot disk again Then use the "format C:/s" command at the A:/ prompt. "Have Fun."

[This message has been edited by Jinx67 (edited 02-02-2000).]

[hd581]

Hmmm stops after 10%....let me guess, it's a Western Digital drive, right??

[bfeagin]

Thanks to all who posted a reply!

I guess what has confused me is I have formated disk up to 560mb with no problem.
I tried using win95 format.com to format the
5.2 gig disk and it would quit after apporximatly 10% was reported formated.

In order to get all the files (i think) off my disk I used deltree,attrib and del. while booted off dirve A. ... not sure if that cleaned of all of them or not.

I would like to know if format.com differs between win 3.1 and win98 second edition upgrade. disk.
And will format.com work with the large drives above 2 gig same as it works with the 560 mb and below.

[Mntsnow]

The simple answer is NO...Win3.1 and Win95 and win95 A supports only FAT 16 format(so 2 gig and under partitions)

Win95B, Win95C and Win98, Win98SE support BOTH FAT 16 as well as FAT32 (note FAT32 must be used on partitions bigger than 2.1 gigs)

Mntsnow

*edited to more clearly define which versions support which formats*

[This message has been edited by Mntsnow (edited 02-02-2000).]

[bfeagin]

Thanks Minstow.

Could I safely say then, when using win98 format.com: I could simply use format.com with the switches /s /u or /s /q to format the 5.2 gig drive as I have done in the past with drives 560mb and smaller using the older version of format.com?

[Mntsnow]

Yes... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Mntsnow

[bfeagin]

Wheeew.
Thanks Mntsnow!!!

Sorry about doing your name wrong.
It's good to have people like you out there to help us dummys.

[Mntsnow]

B, I've been called far worse before http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Mntsnow