Why won't it format?

[camaro]

I had this problem last time I got a new HD also. Forgot how I got around it.

I always make 2 partitions. 1 for OS and another for data. This way I can reformat just the OS one and not loose any data later.

So I make 2 partitions. Install win2k on the first one and format it at the same time. After the install I'm in windows and try to reformat the other partition. Errors.

How can I reformat the other partition?

[John Prophet]

How did you partition it in the first place..did you use the windows2000 install cd or did you use something else?

Just wondering in case there is some sort of version conflict.

[Dj-Icer]

Whats the message box say? It'll be easier for my to figure that out.

There should not be any problem.

I think Win2k has few similarities with Win XP.

Try boot and run CD-ROM first with the Win2k. It will automatically bring u to the setup. Follow the instructions (ENTER), until you got to a part where it will ask you, which driver to format. Choose and format it. After the format, I cant remember as much but I think you can just press ESC after you've done.

How large is the drive? What are you trying to format, FAT32 or NTFS?

[camaro]

I used win2k CD.

I tried going back and formatting the other partition and also got errors. I'm just going to delete all the partitions and format the whole thing at once. I hope I didn't get a bad HD.

[HeadBand]

get a win 98 bootdisk and type FORMAT D:\ at the A:\> prompt where D is the drive letter of the other partition

[Dax_Brandy]

i think you cant format under windows the drive where your OS is at. try in the dos mode and format your drive. but if your OS drive is NTFS formatted , then you cant use dos there. best way is to backup your data and re-format the whole drive.