How do I format C: in dos? updated: Worked thanks!

[Techie333]

Don't have ms-dos versions w/ wind. 95 & 98. Only have windows xp. Have old arse packard bell computer which I am reformatting (Cyrix MII 300mhz chip). To donate to charity. Trying to reinstall windows 98 using master recovery disc, but I need to format the hard drive first. I figured I could do it from windows xp bootable cd, but it won't let me cause it says ur computer cannot have xp cause less than 64mb memory! Tried Windows XP MS-DOS boot disk, but that doesn't have format on it?!? So what do i do?

 

[rh71]

bootdisk.com - grab the win98 bootdisk version and it'll pop you to dos.

 

[Ameesh]

copy format.exe onto the boot disk

 

[Kelvrick]

errm, create a boot floppy?

 

[phoenix79]

do a search for a win98 boot image online and make a bootable floppy with it.

 

[ISAslot]

http://www.bootdisk.com

 

[Techie333]

THANX A LOT!!!!!!!!

 

[Techie333]

new problem: When I goto format it says
"Invalid media or Track 0 bad - disk unusable.
Format terminated."

What do I do now? I just typed in "format C:"

 

[phoenix79]

sounds like you buy a new hard drive

 

[Techie333]

crap! It's an old POS....I'm not going to buy a new hard drive.....lol

 

[Techie333]

Looks like they got em real cheap on ebay. What type do I even buy? ATA/ 66??!?!

 

[Kenazo]

didn't know how to use dos, huh? You mustn't be very old school.

 

[Rapidskies]

did you fdisk it yet? try running fdisk again

 

[Techie333]

Originally posted by: Whade
did you fdisk it yet? try running fdisk again

SCHWEET! I fdisked it and now it is formatting. Thanks guys. Nah, not very old skool. I learned computer on windows 3.1

 

[Kenazo]

Windows 3.1 was just pretty Dos, you needed to know quite a few dos commands to get 3.1 to work properly.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Techie333
new problem: When I goto format it says
"Invalid media or Track 0 bad - disk unusable.
Format terminated."

What do I do now? I just typed in "format C:"

You don't have to fdisk before formatting, but that's the proper procedure. You got this error not because of that - sounds like your floppy was bad or needed "adjusting" in the slot.

And I think you needed format C: /s to place the system files there for the OS.

 

[Jfrag Teh Foul]

?????one?????one???? My, my.. now I know I am getting old.

[oldme]Y'know when I was your age we didn't have all these new-fangled gadgets that didn't need DOS to install the OS... we used DOS boot disks every day, and we were proud to have em too!!! You kids and your 5 billion frames per second and your rock 'n roll haircuts!(swinging cane overhead)[/oldme]

 

[MadPeriot]

At the dos prompt type in Format C:/s/u. The /s is for system and /u for unit

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: MadPeriot
At the dos prompt type in Format C:/s/u. The /s is for system and /u for unit

I think the /u stood for unconditional which means format regardless of issues.

 

[MadPeriot]

I think the /u stood for unconditional which means format regardless of issues.

Yes you're right, just um..testing you guys.