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Home > Archive > General Discussion > January 2001 > HELP, I dont know how to format my harddrive
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HELP, I dont know how to format my harddrive
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| I origanally had 2 Operatng systems on my machine, win98 and win2k (server) using FAT and on 1 partition.
A couple of days ago, my computer started to go bonkers on me, so I decided to reinstall Win2k. When installing, I accidently accepeted to convert my harddrive to NTFS. Now my 13 Giga Byte harddrive is using NTFS. Most of my programs now do not work as they were installed on win98. And I cannot get Win98 to even boot up as that uses FAT.
The only solution I can find is to Format my harddrive and then install win98 first with FAT and then a second partition of NTFS with Win2k. I realise I will lose everything but I accept that.
But even formating my harddrive won't work for me:
http://www.openhosts.com/eftraining/images/format.gif
As you can see, I cant even format my harddrive !?!?!?!?!
Does anybody have a clue what I can do to make the NTFS back to FAT16 ?????
Thanks.
(PS) I realise this has nothing to do with MCSE but its the only place I could think of posting this !
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CIW Site Designer, I-Net+, Network + | |
| Mike99 2001-01-20, 6:47 pm |
| I would killsec0 your HD then partition then format with /u/s switches. I am fairly new so there might be another way. | |
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| I dont really know what you mean by "killsec0", but i beter give more info anyway.
I remembered that when I installed Win2k for the first time, I had a choise of partitioning and deleting a partition. When I tryed to reinstall WIn2k, I got this option and thought that I would be able to delete the 1 and only partition on the machine, but it would not let me delete the partion with the NTFS file system ? The only option it gave me was to overWrite it.
 jeez, all I want to do is format my harddrive !!
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CIW Site Designer, I-Net+, Network + | |
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| The problem is that you're trying to format c while it's being used by Windows 2000. Make a boot disk, boot off it, then format. | |
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| The other option is boot from the Win98 CD (if you still have it), when the menu comes up do not run Setup.
Let it go to the command prompt, then you can format the drive. | |
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| Hmmm, seems like FDISK is required here...
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cadman
It's not the desire to succeed that insures success,
It's the discipline to prepare yourself for it.
http://www.mcse2000.plus.com | |
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| hi !
first of all, thanks for all the responces !
I put the win98 cd and restarted my machine. Nope ! Windows 2000 started up as usual ?
Then I put a '98 Boot-Up disk and restarted the machine. It then brought me to DOS. I tryed to change directory by typing
in "cd c:" and it responded by saying "invalid drive specification" ?? Then, i typed "format c:" and it said again "bad
command or file name" ????
Am i typing in the right code ?
After that, i made a Win2k Boot up disk and tryed starting the comp with that. It brought me to a recovery agent, which in
it, it was like DOS. I typed in "format c:" and it said it had completed the format, but when I restarted the machine again,
Still, everything was as it was before ???????? NOTHING HAD BEEN FORMATED ???????
Is there any programs I can get that will just do a clean sweep for me ?
Also, "Fdisk" .... I never heard of it ? I tryed typing it anyway while I was in DOS and nothing came up ?
Anymore more ideas ?
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CIW Site Designer, I-Net+, Network +
[This message has been edited by Ando (edited 01-20-2001).] | |
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| In your situation I would install partition magic (PM) and create the boot disks and then use the PM boot disks to convert the partition back to fat.
Then I'd uninstall W2K server from the 2G limited Fat partition and reinstall it in a new partition and I'd consider making that partition NTFS
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MCP A+ | |
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| WeyHay !!!!!
i was able to format my harddrive finally !!!!
I inserted the win98 cd and boot-up disk and formated it from there. The first time I tryed that I used a boot-up disk I made myself a couple of months ago from DOS by typing "format a: /s". It must of not given support for the CD rom drive !! It worked just now because I used the official 98 boot-up disk that I was given when I got the machine !!
Now the only problem is that I cant seem to get win98 to recognise my graphics card (3dfx 3000) and also my modem ?
I tryed installing them through "add/remove programs" but no luck !!
On the other hand I installed Win2k again and that OS saw the graphics card and modem and installed them automatically !?!?!
Does anyone know how I can install the graphics card and modem. I have the modem drivers on CD but the cd program wont run because the colour depth on my desktop on win98 is to poor, but I cant get the color depth up any further because I cant install the graphics card !!
WHY ME GOD !! LOL
Anyway, thanks for all the help so far and if you got any ideas on how to fix my current problem with win98, plz help !!
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CIW Site Designer, I-Net+, Network + | |
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cd program wont run because the colour depth on my desktop on win98 is to poor,
I ended up having that same problem with Win98. I could not get my Display proprerties to stay at 800x600 if I did change the resolution changed to 256 colors and seemed to stay there...unfortunatly what I ended up doing was reinstalling my 98.
Ando your way ahead of me with the partitioning I have yet to venture down that road but I have heard great things about partition magic software. Let me know how you resolved the Color properties problem, it really stumped us over here!
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~Flynmonkie
ICQ#10192964
Just an Introduction page! A bit about who I am. http://www.geocities.com/flynmonkie/MeetMonkie.htm | |
| raziazahir, pakistan 2001-01-21, 7:29 pm |
| i,m not here to fix urs problem but i wonna to have some information regarding the opportunities for ciws overthere in England & surroundings
as after complition of one year diploma in computer science these days im taking classes for ciw foundation course
i,ll appreciate your reply
thank u
razia | |
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| quote:
Originally posted by Flynmonkie:
I ended up having that same problem with Win98. I could not get my Display proprerties to stay at 800x600 if I did change the resolution changed to 256 colors and seemed to stay there...unfortunatly what I ended up doing was reinstalling my 98.
Hi Flynmonkie !
Did it work for you when you reinstalled win98 ?
By the way raziazahir, I'm not really the man to be asking !! I'm only just getting trained myself and am in the middle of a course !!
But I do expect to get a reasonably paid job before the summer (Providing I get my MCP+Win2K) . There is much demand for IT professionals here and in england at the mo !!
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CIW Site Designer, I-Net+, Network +
[This message has been edited by Ando (edited 01-21-2001).] | |
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| Ando
Try this. (I'm assuming you have the 3dfx CD-Rom drivers disk that came with the video card).
Go into your C:\Windows\Inf\Other folder (the inf folder is hidden by default) and remove the 3dfx inf file if it is there. If it's not there don't worry about it.
Now go into display properties and change your adapter to Standard VGA. Re-boot the system when it asks you to.
After it's re-booted, change your adapter to the 3dfx 3000 by either running through the install from the CD or changing it through the display properties.
That's always seemed to do the trick for me when I've ever had video card problems with Win9x systems.
Good Luck to you!
Spid
Net+, MCSE | |
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| quote:
Originally posted by Ando:
Hi Flynmonkie !
Did it work for you when you reinstalled win98 ?
Yes I was ale to fix the problem by reinstalling...but it was weird....At first I could not change the Display properties then I tried to update my video driver but my colors would not change from 256 ???....not sure exactly what happened but I have a tendancy to like my 95 better....=]
I wonder did you install 98 over 95? This has caused many "weird" problems in my system...if so I think you should "F disk it" and reinstall the full 98. Actually I am not using that computer anymore with the 95 upped to 98..it's just used by my sons...but I have 98 on this system and not so sure I like it. I hope to get a copy of Win2k and plan to load that.
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~Flynmonkie
ICQ#10192964
Just an Introduction page! A bit about who I am. http://www.geocities.com/flynmonkie/MeetMonkie.htm | |
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| what you have to do is that you go to your folder named vidio in your Window 98 . you have to make sure that you have this file in your CD ROM. then go to your desktop , right click on properties then setting then advanced and go to adapter and then properties , then add your new video card program from your win 98 CD ROM folder video. this is what I can help you with in this issu and about your modem ,I have no better solution other than to reinstall WIN 98.
as if you both operating system it is recommanded that you install only one operating system either Win98 or 2000k.
good luck
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| quote:
Originally posted by sanimage:
what you have to do is that you go to your folder named vidio in your Window 98 . you have to make sure that you have this file in your CD ROM. then go to your desktop , right click on properties then setting then advanced and go to adapter and then properties , then add your new video card program from your win 98 CD ROM folder video. this is what I can help you with in this issu and about your modem ,I have no better solution other than to reinstall WIN 98.
as if you both operating system it is recommanded that you install only one operating system either Win98 or 2000k.
good luck
Yeah that is pretty much what happened to me =]
I do believe please, correct me if I am wrong...but I plan to do this so let me know if I am miss-informed (I don’t start my Win2K classes until next week) But as long as you partition your hard drive you are capable of running 2 separate operating systems on your computer...unless there is something new with WIN2K I have yet to be made aware of.???
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~Flynmonkie
ICQ#10192964
Just an Introduction page! A bit about who I am. http://www.geocities.com/flynmonkie/MeetMonkie.htm | |
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| Flynmonkie, you can run two or three or maybe even more operating systems on the same partition, but to organise it better, its better to split the harddrive upto a couple of pieces and run each OS on each Partition !! (thats what I'm trying to do now !! hehe)
I've decided to format my harddrive again !!
I might as well because I know that I have to reinstall win98 again, but now my lecturer gave me a copy of NT4 Operating System that I need to experiment on for study.
I think I should format the disk and then install NT4 and *hope* that it will ask me "Do you want to make a partition" !!
THen install Win98 on a second partition and finally Win2K (server) on the third partition and maybe leave 2 more partitions as Space to save files etc.
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CIW Site Designer, I-Net+, Network + | |
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| That is what I thought...So you are going to install WIn2K also? Have you completed your Win2K classes? I went through the NT 4.0 classes and studies. But with the deadline and studying for my I-Net+ exam, I decided not to go for the cert for NT 4.0. But WIn2K is different than NT I hope you don't get confused! =] That is what I am afraid of. With the entire NT stuff fresh in my mind...and piling on the Win2K stuff, whew!
Let me know what happens =] Just remember when you get frustrated, YOUR LEARNING =]
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~Flynmonkie
ICQ#10192964
Just an Introduction page! A bit about who I am. http://www.geocities.com/flynmonkie/MeetMonkie.htm | |
| nip2655 2001-01-22, 10:04 pm |
| if you are still having toruble getting windows to recognize your display adapter, check to see if it is an AGP card. If it is, you have to make sure you have installed the AGP driver for the motherboard (depending on the manufacturer of the system-if you do not have an OEM [i.e. made by IBM or Compaq, etc.] version of Windows, it will not load an AGP driver. If you have an OEM version and are installing it on its intended system, it will automatically load the appropriate drivers). Usually this is the case if you have built the system yourself or bought it from an independent dealer. They usually include a CD with any software necessary for proper functioning of the motherboard with your OS.
hope this helps.
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| quote:
Originally posted by Flynmonkie:
Just remember when you get frustrated, YOUR LEARNING =]
 LOL !!
Thanks everyone for the help !! I certainly needed it !!
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CIW Site Designer, I-Net+, Network +
[This message has been edited by Ando (edited 01-22-2001).] |
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