How to...
Format a Hard Drive
If all else fails and you need to format your hard drive then first make sure you have backed up any files including; documents, fonts, pictures, email accounts and clipart.
Make a boot disk, for details check out bootdisk or all_boot_disks
On these disks you should copy the following files, found in your Windows/command folder;
format.com
fdisk.exe
sys.com
Boot from your newly created boot disk.
This should give you a DOS prompt;
A:>_
or
C:>_
Fdisk will clear all data from your disc so before using the FDisk utility it is a good idea to understand your hard drive.
Hard drives range in size and your hard drive controller may have a maximum size that it can control. Some controllers may only be able to handle partitions of 8gb, 20gb etc.
If you have a 80Gb hard drive you may partition it into 1 x 20Gb Primary Partition and 1 x 60Gb Extended Partition which can then be partitioned into 3 x 20Gb partitions thus creating 4 hard drives or Drives D + E + F and G.
Type fdisk to start the utility.
This will show a partitioning menu.
First you must remove the current partitions.
So select option 3 to Delete partitions.
Delete any or all partitions that have been created.
Now select option 2 to create a primary partition.
If you wish to create 2 or more drives then you need to specify the size of each partition either in Gb or %.
If required create your extended partitions.
Exit from the fdisk menu.
Re-boot.
Now at the A:>_ prompt (or A Prompt) type FORMAT C:/s
The /s indicates you wish to format the C drive as a system disc.
This will clear all data from your disc and so asks whether you wish to format the drive. Hit Y if you wish to continue.
Once the disc has been formatted you should be able to boot directly from the hard drive, so remove your floppy boot disc and reboot the machine.
To access any CD-ROM drives from this basic boot system you will need to install CD ROM drivers available from bootdisk
