Format hard drive – Problem (SOLVED!)
I have a really old PC (6-8 years old) and I want to format my hard drive. I have problems trying to get a Windows XP boot disk to work. After adjusting the boot device priority (1st Boot Device: CD/DVD drive) in the BIOS, it reaches the screen that says “Press any key to boot from CD. . .” but proceeds to the Windows XP loading screen a few seconds after even if I press any keys. I was able to reach the screen that you see by auto-running the CD from within Windows XP (not boot). I selected install Windows XP and after auto-restarting, I can choose to install Windows XP (ENTER) or repair (R). I press R and end up in the Recovery Console (the DOS-looking thing that you can see in the video). To all the computer geeks and techies out there. Please feel free to give me any advice on how to format a hard drive (manually, physically or any other methods to clean up a hard drive). I’d really appreciate your help! Thanks! :) PS I’ve been trying to search for programs, make a Floppy boot disk and other stuff but I’ve had no success so far. ——————— Some computer specs (for the curious): Motherboard: 775i65GV CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.8 gHz RAM: 256 MB DDR333 Graphics card: Intel 865GV chipset (integrated) Hard drive: Seagate 20 GB (IDE) Optical drive: Samsung CD/DVD drive (kind of unstable but still works) Power supply: Power Choice 550w (generic) BIOS: P1.60 ——————– Problem solved! I was using a USB keyboard and upon switching to a PS/2 (old school …
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18 comments
bev1806 on January 11, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Just keep trying I ve just succceeded in putting xp on my pentium 2 pc which was hard just keep trying. I thought that pc was old but the specs you have for your old pc are the same for the proccessor on my current pc TIME FOR QUAD CORE
Thanks
mirsc001pro on March 19, 2009 at 12:15 am
press D to the c drive then Press L
then it will wipe it clean
jnnycliff on April 3, 2009 at 8:07 am
you actually delete the HDD. Data still there. Use Dban or some other freeware to boot from floppy, it will over write your HDD, then your HDD will clean. Then you can install any OS.
diabeticman2 on April 6, 2009 at 1:30 am
password is password
homebusinesssupport on April 16, 2009 at 12:09 am
use fdisk to delete partition
samualmathews on June 25, 2009 at 8:56 am
i have a software that can solve this software but first tell me which hdd u have samsung or segate
MrGreekdog on October 13, 2009 at 6:42 pm
you type really slow
soniccomet22 on October 31, 2009 at 12:27 pm
BURNS!!!
shun3006 on November 14, 2009 at 3:56 pm
so what
Bandicoot803 on November 16, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Your 2nd “format” parameter will only work if you do the following:
format C: /fs:NTFS
Hint: You can choose among other file systems like FAT, FAT16 or FAT32. Microsoft has limited the FAT32 file system for up to 32GBytes to force users using NTFS.
punkngoth on November 28, 2009 at 2:06 am
use fdisk or aka killdisk
GlycerinZ on November 30, 2009 at 12:47 am
I love MS-DOS
JakkHack on December 23, 2009 at 4:21 am
@MrGreekdog
Have you ever tried to type with one hand while holding a camera in the other?
Your logic astounds me.
MachinimaMan141 on February 10, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Use KillDisk
MachinimaMan141 on February 10, 2010 at 7:08 pm
@GlycerinZ Same.
adnan1213 on March 11, 2010 at 9:10 pm
You Must Boot it.. The Drive C: Will never Format with Commands It Must Need to Boot Its Only For Drive D: or Drive B”
marstersluz on March 11, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Thanks for all the tips and advice from the community! :) The problem was solved and details can be seen in the description (click on “more info”). I hope this helps anyone who encountered/encounters a similar situation. :)
nourhamshary on March 28, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I Have 9 Years Old