If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
trying to erase hard drive
I'm trying to wipe the hard drive on an old XP laptop. I have a CD
that boots and after typing wipe it does the job. But the drive on this machine won't work. So I'm trying to do it from a command line, but I wasn't exactly sure how. A google search left me with things like format /u format c: format c: /s but none of these work, I end up with Required parameter missing- or Invalid parameter - /s What else can I do at this point? |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
trying to erase hard drive
Windows / DOS won't let you format the drive that contains the operating
system from that drive. You might try copying Format.com from the c:\windows\system32 folder onto a floppy drive. From Windows, go to the command prompt and cd to the a:\ prompt. You might be able to do it that way, but I'm not 100% sure. Another way is to boot from the Windows setup CD. You can go as far as the formatting step, then do a Ctrl-C to kill the installation as soon as the formatting completes. .. "Greg Forschler" wrote in message ... I'm trying to wipe the hard drive on an old XP laptop. I have a CD that boots and after typing wipe it does the job. But the drive on this machine won't work. So I'm trying to do it from a command line, but I wasn't exactly sure how. A google search left me with things like format /u format c: format c: /s but none of these work, I end up with Required parameter missing- or Invalid parameter - /s What else can I do at this point? |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
trying to erase hard drive
"Greg Forschler" wrote in message
... I'm trying to wipe the hard drive on an old XP laptop. I have a CD that boots and after typing wipe it does the job. But the drive on this machine won't work. So I'm trying to do it from a command line, but I wasn't exactly sure how. A google search left me with things like format /u format c: format c: /s but none of these work, I end up with Required parameter missing- or Invalid parameter - /s DOS commands like this are usually self documenting i.e. display a list of available and necessary parameters if you key FILENAME /? or in this case FORMAT /? WinXP handles this sort of task more conveniently via / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Computer Management / Storage / Disk Management. You can here remove all volume(s) from the HD, make a new one (or several) and format it. -- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
trying to erase hard drive
"Greg Forschler" wrote in message ... I'm trying to wipe the hard drive on an old XP laptop. I have a CD that boots and after typing wipe it does the job. But the drive on this machine won't work. So I'm trying to do it from a command line, but I wasn't exactly sure how. A google search left me with things like format /u format c: format c: /s but none of these work, I end up with Required parameter missing- or Invalid parameter - /s What else can I do at this point? If you are booting the computer from the hard drive that you are trying to erase that can't be done. What you are effectively trying to do is cut off the limb that you are sitting on and in this case Windows will not allow that. You either need to get your CD drive working so you can boot from that, boot from a USB thumb drive that has the DOS operating system on it and the format program or use a floppy drive with the system files on it to boot the computer. The format command would be Format C: ENTER from whatever boot media you use (other than the Windows Operating system command line of course.) |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
trying to erase hard drive
On Oct 25, 6:15*am, "jkneese" wrote:
Windows / DOS won't let you format the drive that contains the operating system from that drive. You might try copying Format.com from the c:\windows\system32 folder onto a floppy drive. From Windows, go to the command prompt and cd to the a:\ prompt. You might be able to do it that way, but I'm not 100% sure. Another way is to boot from the Windows setup CD. You can go as far as the formatting step, then do a Ctrl-C to kill the installation as soon as the formatting completes. ."Greg Forschler" wrote in message ... I'm trying to wipe the hard drive on an old XP laptop. I have a CD that boots and after typing wipe it does the job. But the drive on this machine won't work. So I'm trying to do it from a command line, but I wasn't exactly sure how. A google search left me with things like format /u format c: format c: /s but none of these work, I end up with Required parameter missing- or Invalid parameter - /s What else can I do at this point?- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I don't have the install disc, or a floppy drive on this laptop. I guess there is no way to erase it then? |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
trying to erase hard drive
This may be of use for you.
http://www.killdisk.com/features.htm -- Don Vancouver, USA "Greg Forschler" wrote in message ... On Oct 25, 6:15 am, "jkneese" wrote: Windows / DOS won't let you format the drive that contains the operating system from that drive. You might try copying Format.com from the c:\windows\system32 folder onto a floppy drive. From Windows, go to the command prompt and cd to the a:\ prompt. You might be able to do it that way, but I'm not 100% sure. Another way is to boot from the Windows setup CD. You can go as far as the formatting step, then do a Ctrl-C to kill the installation as soon as the formatting completes. ."Greg Forschler" wrote in message ... I'm trying to wipe the hard drive on an old XP laptop. I have a CD that boots and after typing wipe it does the job. But the drive on this machine won't work. So I'm trying to do it from a command line, but I wasn't exactly sure how. A google search left me with things like format /u format c: format c: /s but none of these work, I end up with Required parameter missing- or Invalid parameter - /s What else can I do at this point?- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I don't have the install disc, or a floppy drive on this laptop. I guess there is no way to erase it then? |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
trying to erase hard drive
On Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:21:01 -0700 (PDT), Greg Forschler
wrote: I'm trying to wipe the hard drive on an old XP laptop. I have a CD that boots and after typing wipe it does the job. But the drive on this machine won't work. So I'm trying to do it from a command line, but I wasn't exactly sure how. A google search left me with things like format /u format c: format c: /s but none of these work, I end up with Required parameter missing- or Invalid parameter - /s What else can I do at this point? http://www.volatileminds.net/opendia...ostics_Live_CD |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|