help!!! format command

[retamal]

Hello.
I've got a serious problem. I have xp professional. I'm
trying to format c: but it is impossible, the system does
not let me to do it. Some message like "drivers in use" o
something like that (I do not remember very well now).

How can I do it???
Thanks.

[Jonathan Maltz [MS-MVP]]

Boot off the Pro CD and in the blue screen install when you get to the drive
selection hit either the "D" key or the "Delete" key (I forget which one
exactly) then press enter and L. You can't format C: in Windows because
since Windows is running, there are files on C: being used

--
--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server]
http://www.imbored.biz - A Windows Server 2003 visual, step-by-step
tutorial site :-)
Only reply by newsgroup. If I see an email I didn't ask for, it will be
deleted without reading.


"retamal" > wrote in message
...
> Hello.
> I've got a serious problem. I have xp professional. I'm
> trying to format c: but it is impossible, the system does
> not let me to do it. Some message like "drivers in use" o
> something like that (I do not remember very well now).
>
> How can I do it???
> Thanks.
>

[Wim]

retamal wrote:
> Hello.
> I've got a serious problem. I have xp professional. I'm
> trying to format c: but it is impossible, the system does
> not let me to do it. Some message like "drivers in use" o
> something like that (I do not remember very well now).
>
> How can I do it???
> Thanks.

Formatting your C: drive with Operating System XP on it would mean you
eliminate your OS, not allowed by XP.
You could re-install XP on C: from your CD-Rom, then you get an option to
first format C:
Beware, ALL data are lost when reformatting!

[R. C. White]

Hi, Antonio.

As the others said - and as you probably remember - NO operating system, not
even MS-DOS, can format the drive that it just booted from and is running
on. That's like sawing off the limb it's sitting on, and it won't - can't -
obey that command. In Win9x/ME, we might format D: or E: from Windows, but
to format C:, we had to boot from a floppy.

Are you trying to install WinXP? The best way is to set your computer BIOS
to boot from the CD drive. Then boot from the WinXP CD-ROM and accept its
invitation to repartition (if you like) and reformat the hard drive. Let
Setup handle the System Partition (Drive C:) and the Boot Volume, if you
decide to install WinXP on a drive other than C:. After you get WinXP
installed and running, find the new built-in utility Disk Management. From
now on, use DM to create, delete and format partitions and logical drive,
plus assign and re-assign drive letters to suit yourself. DM can do just
about everything EXCEPT reformat the System Partition and Boot Volume;
you'll still have to use other tools for that.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP

"retamal" > wrote in message
...
> Hello.
> I've got a serious problem. I have xp professional. I'm
> trying to format c: but it is impossible, the system does
> not let me to do it. Some message like "drivers in use" o
> something like that (I do not remember very well now).
>
> How can I do it???
> Thanks.