can't format HD....

[YabbyU]

trying to install windows 98 on a co-workers computer.

I ran fdisk and deleted old partition with ME installed on it, created/activated a new partition. Rebooted with 98 startup/floppy disk and typed format C: at the A prompt. I keep getting bad command. Any ideas whats up. I've tried 2 different hard drives but keep getting the same problem.

BTW I tired formatting the drive with 98 CD like I would with 2000 or Xp and it doesn't work.

thanks

 

[bluwing]

Hi,

What boot disk are you using 98 or ME? check the floppy to see if it has FORMAT on it.

bluwing

 

[toant103]

sometime the A and B drive are switch. Try going to B: promt. Or just do


dir a: and check to see if the format command is in there

 

[Dragonbate]

Sounds like you need to get a boot disk with format on it or add format to your windows boot disk. Seach any windows machine for format.com then copy and past it to that flopply. Alternately you can download a good bootdisk from http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm I'd reccomend the custom with no ramdrive. Its not needed for what you want to do. Good luck.

 

[YabbyU]

Thanks guys...ya I got the 98 boot disk off boot disk.com 98 oem and I tried the 98SE oem. I'll try changing the drive to B:

Bluewing I'm not sure what you mean, But I'll try n look when I get home

Thanks guys

 

[Cardio]

I don't remember the exact command but didn't it require a \s after the c: ?

 

[bendixG15]

Bluewing I'm not sure what you mean, But I'll try n look when I get home

What he means is for you to do a
Dir A:
And see if Format is listed as one of the programs

or click on My Computer ....Click on Drive A
and see if Format is listed

 

[YabbyU]

I did dir A: and format was not one of the programs.

Should it give me the same list of programs if I do Dir A: with the boot disk in or with the boot disk out. Mabey the floppy is bad. SHouldn't the floppy light flicker when the the system fires up. There is currently no OS installed.

So what next...

 

[NumbaJuan]

Originally posted by: YabbyU
I did dir A: and format was not one of the programs.

Should it give me the same list of programs if I do Dir A: with the boot disk in or with the boot disk out. Mabey the floppy is bad. SHouldn't the floppy light flicker when the the system fires up. There is currently no OS installed.

So what next...

if the format comd. is not on the boot disk you will not be able to format.

 

[joanneL2]

Get a better boot disk that includes FORMAT. Then, your command would be format C: /s which will put your command.com on the C drive so that you could then see it and boot to it. If you don't have a good boot disk that includes FORMAT, determine brand of hard drive and go to their website and download their boot utilities (i.e., Maxtor). I don't particular LIKE to use their utils, but they have gotten better over the years. You just need another Win98 system that you can copy format from to the floppy.

 

[membreya]

Originally posted by: joanneL2
Get a better boot disk that includes FORMAT. Then, your command would be format C: /s which will put your command.com on the C drive so that you could then see it and boot to it. If you don't have a good boot disk that includes FORMAT, determine brand of hard drive and go to their website and download their boot utilities (i.e., Maxtor). I don't particular LIKE to use their utils, but they have gotten better over the years. You just need another Win98 system that you can copy format from to the floppy.

I prefer format c: /s /q |y

That way it does a quick format, loads system files and does not prompt you to accept the format.

Lol bastard of a mate put that in one of my batch files back when I was running Windows 98 (I used to have a d.bat to list directories in DOS and he edited it when I walked away from my PC..thank god for CTRL+C)

 

[YabbyU]

Well I figured it out, I'm just not sure exactly what was wrong because I tried 3 fixes at once. I tried:

1) Changing my boot order back to floppy first, I had it on CDrom
2) New floppy cable
3) Different boot disk

I wish I would have tried one at a time so I'd know which it was.

Thanks for all the help.....thank god for windows XP!