Can't format or partition disk 1

[sedacca]

Can someone please help? I've been trying to format a disk that was previously NTFS formatted and then corrupted during a subsequent install on a new machine - it might have been XP, but I can't remember for sure.

Now, when I go to my computer and right click to manage, then go to disk management, the disk I want to format shows a red circle with a white dash (no entry) sign. Normally, if I click on the action menu at this point I will be offered the option to create a partition, but this is now greyed out.

 

[scottew]

Is this a second hard drive in your machine?

 

[sedacca]

Yes. I have Windows 2000 instaled on the first drive.

 

[bcastner]

Use a Win98SE bootdisk with fdisk and remove any partitions:

http://www.bootdisk.com/

Or if seriously screwed up partition tables, you might want to use TestDisk:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/

 

[pweegar]

IS this a newly installed second disk? Make sure your dip switches are set for either master/slave or cable select.

 

[sedacca]

I'm interested in your suggestion, bcastner. The drive is NTFS formatted. Will a Windows 98 bootdisk be able to remove the partition?

 

[wolluf]

Probably - it should appear as non-dos partition to fdisk.

You could try

http://www.killdisk.com/features.htm

to wipe it completely.

 

[sedacca]

Thanks wolluf. It worked and I have now rebuilt my machine.