formating harddrive with 2 OS

[tlow]

Hi, I'm running Win98, dual boot with Win2000, but it is does not load (some errors with ntkernal files etc). I'd like to format the 3 gig harddrive which has 2 partision C & D. I have a bootable WIN2000 CD but it will not let me install or format the harddrive. Error Message: Cannot format Harddrive with 2 operating systems.

Question: How can I format the harddrive so that I can re-install Win2000 as the only OS on the computer.

Thanks.

Tony

 

[ayjaycee]

Can't you use FDISK 1st to delete the 2 partitions & re-create as one? (remember to re-boot after deleting the partitions - catches me out all the time, that one :-() One by one, the penguins steal my sanity. X-)

http://www.tanda.f2s.com

 

[dxd]

Never seen that particular error....here is a step by step using the W2K CD:

Boot the CD
Choose to install NEW (do not choose repair or upgrade)
At some point you should get to the drive/partition selection screen.
First, delete all partitions.
Then select create partition and format FAT or NTFS.
The install should start now.
Doug
dxd_2000@yahoo.com

 

[tlow]

Hi, Thanks to ayjaycee and dxd for your response. Now I'm unable to boot to the cd-rom or the floppy, but
managed to delete the D partition with fdisk, however, when I tried to delete the primary dos partition C: It won;t allow me to delete. Message: "Could not change partition because the disk could not be locked".
What's seems to be the problem? How can I get around this so that I can format the harddrive to install win2000?. Thanks.

 

[ayjaycee]

How did you run FDISK? Was it in a DOS "window" or did you exit Windows to DOS? The latter is best

Q: why can't you boot from floppy or CD - that's gonna cause problems when re-installing :-( - ??? One by one, the penguins steal my sanity. X-)

http://www.tanda.f2s.com

 

[dxd]

You will not be able to delete the C: drive unless you can boot via floppy or CD...can't delete a partition you are running on!

We need to concentrate on why you can't boot from the floppy...depending on your system, it may not support El Torito (CD booting).

Do you have a Dos/Windows boot disk? Can you access the floppy in Windows? If so, you can create a boot disk through the Add/Remove Programs applet in Control Panel.

If you have a functional boot disk and it still does not work, the first thing you need to do is check out your BIOS settings and see if the floppy drives boot capabilities are enabled. If that feature is not available in your BIOS...try setting the BIOS defaults.

If it still doesn't work..boot to the hard drive and press F8 to get to the Windows startup menu. Then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only. At a C: prompt run "chkdsk" and note how much free conventional memory is reported. If less than 655360, you have a boot sector virus. You can try to get rid of it by typing "fdisk /mbr" and pres enter. Reboot, press F8, and Safe Mode Command Prompt Only and rerun "chkdsk" to see if you get 655360. I have run across a virus before that would not allow me to boot to floppy...which is necessary in most cases to get rid of it. I wound up having to move the hard drive to another system as a slave to clean it.

At any rate, let's work on getting the floppy bootable then move to the next step of installing the OS.
Doug
dxd_2000@yahoo.com

 

[HugoGuessit]

tlow,
After you resolve the issue of booting to a floppy disk, get to a dos prompt and type the following...

at the prompt type 'DEBUG' and press enter. (please ignore the gasps of horror of the other readers who tell you debug is an evil terror not to be used by the faint of heart.)
debug will put a single dash (-) as it's prompt for you. I'm going to list what to type which will clear your partition entirely. type everything you see between the single parenthesis exactly as seen.
at the first prompt type 'f200 400 0' then press enter.
type 'RAX' & press enter
this displays AX0000 and then shows a colon
type '301' and press enter.
again, you are at a dash. type 'RBX' enter
you see BX0000 and another colon.
type '200' & press enter.
at the next dash, type 'RCX' & enter.
you'll see CX0000
type '1' & enter.
another dash, type 'RDX' & enter.
you'll see DX0000
type '80' & enter.
another dash, type 'E100 CD 13' & enter.
type 'p' & enter.
type 'q' & enter.
restart the computer and see if you can boot to your floppy, then run fdisk.

**Warning** Debug is not something to be done if you don't have explicit instructions or know what you are doing (or preferably both). I've used this method to clear hard drives on more than one occasion, so I know it works.
Good luck. hg

 

[blacknosee]

Once you solve your A:drive problem, you may want to try the IBM format program(pc-dos)Headup. I found it an excellent solution to stubborn harddrives that will not format with Msdos disks. It will format doublespace drives as well. It has a very simple interface and has provisions for creating partitions.

http://www-1.ibm.com/support/manager.wss?rs=0&rt=0&org=psg&doc=BBOD-3MWPBJ

 

[tlow]

Sorry for the late reply, and thank you all techies out there with the really good and knowledgeable suggestions. Yes, you're right dxd, it was the BIOS setting. I re-set the BIOS default and it worked.

Thank you all,
Tony