Unable to format hard disk

[Aks]

I have a Toshiba satellite L100 laptop. The hard disk is giving me
real hard time. I tried formatting it but a pop up says some windows
programme is running and it should be closed to enable formatting. Is
there any command/programme where in I can go ahead with the
formatting without any hitches? How do I check what is running?

[Pegasus [MVP]]

"Aks" > wrote in message
...
>I have a Toshiba satellite L100 laptop. The hard disk is giving me
> real hard time. I tried formatting it but a pop up says some windows
> programme is running and it should be closed to enable formatting. Is
> there any command/programme where in I can go ahead with the
> formatting without any hitches? How do I check what is running?

Here are a couple of options:
- Boot the machine with your WinXP CD in order to perform a fresh
installation of Windows, then allow the disk to be formatted when prompted.
- Boot the machine with the "Factory Restore" CD from Toshiba, then follow
the prompts.

Make sure to back up all your important data files (including your EMail
files!) before going ahead.

[Mick Murphy]

You can not formatt a running Windows installation.
--
Mad Mike


"Aks" wrote:

> I have a Toshiba satellite L100 laptop. The hard disk is giving me
> real hard time. I tried formatting it but a pop up says some windows
> programme is running and it should be closed to enable formatting. Is
> there any command/programme where in I can go ahead with the
> formatting without any hitches? How do I check what is running?
>

[Patrick Keenan]

"Aks" > wrote in message
...
>I have a Toshiba satellite L100 laptop. The hard disk is giving me
> real hard time. I tried formatting it but a pop up says some windows
> programme is running and it should be closed to enable formatting. Is
> there any command/programme where in I can go ahead with the
> formatting without any hitches? How do I check what is running?

Look on your screen. What's running is Windows. You cannot format the
system volume while it is running!

Boot from the install CD, or attach the drive to another system to format
it.

HTH
-pk

[Bruce Chambers]

Aks wrote:
> I have a Toshiba satellite L100 laptop. The hard disk is giving me
> real hard time. I tried formatting it but a pop up says some windows
> programme is running and it should be closed to enable formatting. Is
> there any command/programme where in I can go ahead with the
> formatting without any hitches? How do I check what is running?


It sounds like you're trying to format the drive containing the
system volume from within WinXP. You can't. This would be the computer
equivalent of sawing off the tree limb you're sitting on, and WinXP is
"too smart" to allow this.

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation,, simply boot from the WinXP Home installation CD. You'll
be offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as
part of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order
of boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

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