Utitily to format NTFS partition from DOS?

[Elledan]

The Win2k installer screwed up during the installation of a fresh install, and now I get a 'STOP' error every time I reach the begin of the installation procedure.

I would like to format the partition and try again, but since I can't even boot from the bootdisks (STOP error), I need another way to format the partition.

Any utilities I could use?

 

[Muse]

You can't boot from a Win9x boot disk and fdisk and format?

 

[Elledan]

<< You can't boot from a Win9x boot disk and fdisk and format? >>

No Win9x bootdisk (let alone Win9x) supports the NTFS FS. Fdisk can only partition FAT and FAT32 partitions.

 

[jaywallen]

<< The Win2k installer screwed up during the installation of a fresh install, and now I get a 'STOP' error every time I reach the begin of the installation procedure.

I would like to format the partition and try again, but since I can't even boot from the bootdisks (STOP error), I need another way to format the partition.

Any utilities I could use? >>



I'm really confused about this. I don't see how the boot disks could be caused to fail to boot, regardless of what happened to the hard drive -- or even if the hard drive was removed from the system -- as long as the system was set to boot first from floppy. Am I missing something here? (I often do. You may have to speak slowly and used small words.)

Anyway, if your system can boot from the CD, you should be able to delete any partition (even farkled ones) from within the first part of the setup procedure, create a new one, and install to it. And, really, I can't see why the diskettes wouldn't also support an install. Is there something odd about the hard drive? Does it require use of the F6 option to install drivers during the setup procedure?

Regards,
Jim

 

[snake253]

Partition Magic 6.0 will create a NTFS partition using dos. But as jaywallen said, you should be able to to use dos fdisk to just delete the partitions and start over.

 

[Elledan]

<< I'm really confused about this. I don't see how the boot disks could be caused to fail to boot, regardless of what happened to the hard drive -- or even if the hard drive was removed from the system -- as long as the system was set to boot first from floppy. Am I missing something here? >>

I get the STOP error right after the message 'Starting Windows 2000', the screen flickers a few times, which is normal, but suddenly I get this pretty blue screen with white letters



<< Anyway, if your system can boot from the CD, you should be able to delete any partition (even farkled ones) from within the first part of the setup procedure, create a new one, and install to it. And, really, I can't see why the diskettes wouldn't also support an install. Is there something odd about the hard drive? Does it require use of the F6 option to install drivers during the setup procedure? >>

Nothing fancy, just a normal on-board IDE channel => IDE HD. The HD I own is an upgrade version, BTW, and after launching \i386\winnt.exe it asks for the Windows 2000 files, so I type D:\i386\ and press Enter. It then says that Smartdrive is missing and whether I want to continue anyway. After I press yes, I get the error that there *might* not be enough space on the HD.

 

[Elledan]

<< Partition Magic 6.0 will create a NTFS partition using dos. But as jaywallen said, you should be able to to use dos fdisk to just delete the partitions and start over. >>

And that really works?

It's not a huge loss if all partitions on this HD are destroyed/corrupted since I made backups, so I guess I'll try it

Thanks

 

[TechMaster]

Use NTFSDOS Pro to <U>use</U> NTFS partition in dos - dot that it would help you now - since you don't have the time to order it and need the drive now...

you sould be able.to use a Win9X recue disk and do a fdisk on the drive - I personally use PartitionMagic 6

 

[Elledan]

Okay, I went ahead and used fdisk to delete and recreate the primairy partition. So far so good

 

[jaywallen]

<< Nothing fancy, just a normal on-board IDE channel => IDE HD. The HD I own is an upgrade version, BTW, and after launching \i386\winnt.exe it asks for the Windows 2000 files, so I type D:\i386\ and press Enter. It then says that Smartdrive is missing and whether I want to continue anyway. After I press yes, I get the error that there *might* not be enough space on the HD. >>



It really sounds like you're trying to do this the hard way. Is this necessary? Are you able to boot from the CD drive or not? You don't have to issue anything from a command line to do this properly. The setup procedure on the setup CD-ROM will walk you through everything. It's really best to NOT run this procedure by booting to DOS or by using the installation diskette set. The CD is far faster and more reliable -- if your BIOS will support the proper boot order.

Or am I totally misunderstanding your exact situation?

Anyway, I hope you get it sorted out!

Regards,
Jim

 

[Elledan]

<< It really sounds like you're trying to do this the hard way. Is this necessary? Are you able to boot from the CD drive or not? You don't have to issue anything from a command line to do this properly. The setup procedure on the setup CD-ROM will walk you through everything. It's really best to NOT run this procedure by booting to DOS or by using the installation diskette set. The CD is far faster and more reliable -- if your BIOS will support the proper boot order.

Or am I totally misunderstanding your exact situation? >>

Yup, it's an upgrade CD, so the CD is not bootable



<< Anyway, I hope you get it sorted out! >>

Actually I'm listening right now to the MP3's which were stored on the PC I was struggling with, so yes, it worked

 

[jaywallen]

<< Yup, it's an upgrade CD, so the CD is not bootable >>



But upgrade CDs ARE bootable. All of them. Honestly. My personal Win2K upgrade CD is bootable, and all of them I've ever seen are bootable, upgrade or not. This was always true even of NT4.

They are made to NOT boot from CD if you don't hit the space bar in the five seconds or so that are allotted. You have to watch the screen right after POST.



<< Actually I'm listening right now to the MP3's which were stored on the PC I was struggling with, so yes, it worked >>



That being the case, the bootability (or lack of it) of the CD doesn't matter -- until the next time!

I'm glad you're up and running!

Regards,
Jim

 

[Elledan]

Thanks Jim

 

[jaywallen]

Yerwelkum!