How Do I Reformat?

[GhostHunter]

Well once I transfer all my info onto new disks how do I do it and where do I start?

[IxianMace]

You mean completely erase your hard drive and reformat it?

1. Restart in MS-DOS mode.

2. Type: format C: (or whatever drive((s)) you might want to format, then press enter and answer yes to the questions that follow).

3. Once the format finishes, give the hard disk(s) a/their label(s), and restart.

Now all you have to do is reload your operating system, drivers, and programs onto your computer, and your system should be clean as new.

Before you format your hard drive, you should have at least 1 bootdisk, so you can re-install your operating system from DOS.

[Procyon]

But you can write "format C:/q". If you write Q it will format the HD quick.

[Nyarlathotep]

But you can write "format C:/q". If you write Q it will format the HD quick.

That option q will not format your harddrive. The only thing it does is that the Format command will whipe the enterances of the files and directories on your harddrive. It doesn't clear your whole harddisk.

Best format option to use is format c: /u. The option U stands for the fact that Windows isn't going to create a backup file. Not using the option U means that format will create a backup file in case something goes wrong. However, if something goes wrong with the format, the backup file won't save you...

[Procyon]

Then , if you put the "q" it will not format the HD properly?? ??? I didn`t know that.

Then that may be my problem, the guy that helped me putted the q, when I reformmatted. So so there why emperor did still locking up after reformatting.

[Nyarlathotep]

Then , if you put the "q" it will not format the HD properly?? ??? I didn`t know that.

Then that may be my problem, the guy that helped me putted the q, when I reformmatted. So so there why emperor did still locking up after reformatting.

Could be, but not sure if that's the culprint of your issue.

[number6]

Then , if you put the "q" it will not format the HD properly?? ??? I didn`t know that.

Then that may be my problem, the guy that helped me putted the q, when I reformmatted. So so there why emperor did still locking up after reformatting.

Procyon, I specifically said before that you want to do a complete reformat and actually recreate the disk partitions. I don't think you have ever done a complete format at this point. My suggestion is to get a brand new hard drive. That way you will know it is clean. Or get someone who knows how to use fdisk and delete the disk partitions and then format.

[Procyon]

The guy said that if you putted the q it will format everything quickier :P, but i will do it again with the u thingie.

I didn`t know that if you putt the q thing it will not format completely my hd .

[Nyarlathotep]

The guy said that if you putted the q it will format everything quickier :P, but i will do it again with the u thingie.

I didn`t know that if you putt the q thing it will not format completely my hd .

To be honest, the option q does format your drive, don't get me wrong. To be more specific, the command format removes files from your harddisk. The question however is, what do the options behind it do ? The option q is the quickest way to remove files from your pc, but nothing is being checked (bad sectors, ect). The format command without options removes files, checks the drive and puts a files system on it. Especially with new drives, I seriously doubt the option q will work (it may work, but you may not be able to put a OS on it).

[number6]

I am not too sure about the q option either doc, but I am starting to wonder about it. I think it is supposed to be used to delete all files on the disk and that makes the format faster because it does not really format the disk. I have always just used format without options or to create a boot disk I have used format /s A:. I have a feeling that the q option will not delete hidden or system files and the dll file causing the problem could still be lingering.

I have found a pretty good walkthrough for formatting a hard drive Procyon. Click on this link.

The only thing they don't cover completly in fdisk is how to delete existing partitions. Before you can create a new partition you must delete the existing ones. Fdisk will blow away everything so be sure to back up what you need before doing this. You can't even format until you create new partitions after you delete them. Since you have 2 disks you will have to use option 5 to change between partitions and delete/create them seperately. Use option 3 to get to the delete partition screen. Since this destroys everything on the disk you have to type in the volume name before it will actually delete the partition. This link has a good write up on fdisk. Since MS fdisk is menu driven I think it is pretty easy to use. Just make sure you have everything you need before beginning this process. Good luck!

--- Update ---

Here's a good walkthrough of using fdisk from Dell.

[gryphon]

This is microsoft's answer to the difference between format and quick format in WinXP's installation.

Was thinking about it the whole time, although there isn't one in Win2000, wasn't there a /s option in the DOS format command ?