PDA

View Full Version : Notebook/Laptop reformatting problem...

pushead
08-19-2003, 07:19 PM
Ok, I've got a Gateway Solo 1200 notebook/laptop,
and it has XP on it, but I want to completely
reformat the hard drive to put 98se on it.

I go to start, run, and type in "format c:"
then command promp opens up and this is what happens:

_________________________________________________
WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISk
DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST!
Proceed with Format <Y/N> (I click Y and hit enter)
Verifying 9585M

Format cannot run because the volume is in use by another
process. Format may run if this volume is dismounted first.
ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID.
Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? <Y/N> (I hit Y)
Cannot lock the drive. The volume is still in use.
_______________________________________________

How do I get around this?
All I wanna do is reformat the hard drive...
vee_ess
08-24-2003, 03:52 AM
You can't delete the contents of your hard drive while your OS is using it. To get around this you need to boot from a floppy or by some other method to boot directly into DOS. You can go to http://www.bootdisk.com to download a boot disk. I'd use a 98 or ME disk (the ME ones are actually the best of any for custom boots). You can also press F8 while XP is loading to go to the boot options, but I don't recall if XP allows you to go into DOS or anything like previous OS's did.
pushead
08-24-2003, 04:08 AM
You can't delete the contents of your hard drive while your OS is using it. To get around this you need to boot from a floppy or by some other method to boot directly into DOS. You can go to http://www.bootdisk.com to download a boot disk. I'd use a 98 or ME disk (the ME ones are actually the best of any for custom boots). You can also press F8 while XP is loading to go to the boot options, but I don't recall if XP allows you to go into DOS or anything like previous OS's did.

Well, let me give that a try...
I'll keep it posted.
pushead
08-25-2003, 12:11 AM
Well..My disc drive is screwed up or something..
It's telling me that every dc I put into it is not in
a format that windows can recognize, but yet
they read just fine in the external cd drive...
But I can't put windows back on with that because
windows has to be installed in order to find it.
It's in a usb port.