Format?... I WISH!

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 9:55 pm

Any one want to tell me why when I "format" my computer in Win 2000 it only formats (or over writes I am starting to think) the main system files? I thought I had formated since I no longer had any of my programs on the computer, but I went to "Documents and Settings"... There is 3 "fresh installs" of documents folders for the admin. This is really driving me batty since I have to guess which one is the "right" one.

Any one have any idea why it did this is the first place (could it be the virus I was trying to kill in the first place?).

Plasma2002b · Post by **Plasma2002b** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 10:52 pm

is your HD set up with more than one partition?

also, how are you 'formatting' it?

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 6:05 am

The computer does have more then one, but I delete it before I format. I am fomating however the Win 2000 install does it.

I first thought it just killed my winnt folder files, but I don't have my programs on it anymore.

Plasma2002b · Post by **Plasma2002b** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 8:08 am

well windows doesnt do a very good job at formatting hard drives (then again, what DOES it do good?)

what i would suggest is to format the whole hd manually.......... IE get a boot floppy (or boot cd) and get into DOS and type 'format c:/' therefor doing a real format.

And format each partition too.... cause what it sounds likee is that you have document folders on other partitions and windows sees them and puts then in your folder...........
im not positive on that, but it sounds the most reasonable.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 8:21 am

Well I don't think the other drive is having any problems. In most cases I would delete both partitions, but I can only seem to delete my D drives partition. The other one won't delete for what ever reason (do I have a some what corrupt CD

?). I'll try going into safe mode since my computer seems to enjoy freezing... (So I can blame it on a non complete format).

fuuucckkers · Post by **fuuucckkers** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 1:00 pm

I'd suggest using your Harddrive Software Disk and/or CD.

I found that if I partition / format manually it takes hours, because you have to wait for DOS to do everything.

If I use my Maxtor Max-Blast diskette it only takes but a few minutes to configure the options.. partition and format the entire drive(s).

Much easier and faster ..especially if you aren't familar with DOS.

Plasma2002b · Post by **Plasma2002b** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 3:55 pm

PhaseDMA wrote:I'll try going into safe mode since my computer seems to enjoy freezing... (So I can blame it on a non complete format).

i think the main problem is that your trying to do all this stuff from inside windows..........

although there are ways to do things like that, it really is a LOT better to format, fdisk, etcerta all from DOS instead of windows.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 8:29 pm

I have no clue what I was thinking when I typed that. I never attempt a complete format in Windows (Other then to use the CD and tell it to restart and format).

aaii · Post by **aaii** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 8:53 pm

PhaseDMA wrote:I have no clue what I was thinking when I typed that. I never attempt a complete format in Windows (Other then to use the CD and tell it to restart and format).

To completely wipe your system: boot off the Win2k CD into the text based installer, delete the partitions until you have empty space, create a new partition and continue install.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 8:58 pm

So someone want to tell me why I can't kill the primary?

Plasma2002b · Post by **Plasma2002b** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 9:12 pm

use FDisk........ part of DOS....... dont use that damn windows

aaii · Post by **aaii** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 5:51 pm

Plasma2002b wrote:use FDisk........ part of DOS....... dont use that damn windows

The text part of NT/2k/XP removes the partitions just as well as fdisk does with 1/4 of the effort.

fuuucckkers · Post by **fuuucckkers** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 5:56 pm

aaii wrote:
Plasma2002b wrote:use FDisk........ part of DOS....... dont use that damn windows
The text part of NT/2k/XP removes the partitions just as well as fdisk does with 1/4 of the effort.

Blah to the reduced effort! I like DOS!

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 6:14 pm

....Or it should....

Plasma2002b · Post by **Plasma2002b** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 7:06 pm

lie wasted said..... ill lean more towards DOS for pure power over windows any day

Big-O Software

Format?... I WISH!

Format?... I WISH!

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