Formatting WinXP ???

Accel7

here's the problem:

have Windows XP installed on my system and need to format the hard drive.
now i have used the Windows XP disk to re-install but it doesn't give me the option of formatting my hard drive, just re-installs over the old install and leaves old crap behind.

i have tried to use a Windows ME boot disk to format but it won't let me because the drive is using NTFS.
only way i found to get rid of that is to use fdisk and delete the partition and create a new one, then i could finally format the drive.

is there a faster way of formatting a computer using Windows XP or NTFS ???

does Windows XP run better on a hard drive using NTFS or better on FAT 32 ???

any info would be good.

darshanjog

There is an option performing command line operations in Win XP setup. I used it once. It don't exactly recall what it is called.

Some kinda manual recovery option. At command prompt you are prompted to login (dos/text mode).

After that you can perform all kinda operations like we do in MS-DOS Prompt. I think the format option is also available.

darshanjog

Just recalled another way to format an NTFS partition fast.

Use Partition Magic 7.0 Pro.

It gives the option to format a partition in various file systems including NTFS. I have used this once. It works.

DanDaMan1487

In winXP, a lot of the MS-DOS system programs are renamed into something else. ScanDisk for example is now ChkDsk. Look in the WinXP help and in INDEX type "format".

Johnhagi

It's obvious that NTFS is better!
Now about format: You have to choose new installation and continue!When setup ask you about the disk you want to install windows,delete the existing partition!Then create a new one and format it with the NTFS format(Not quick)!and then continue installation!Thats the way you get your hard disk formatted!

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hagi

nutsack

Boot from the Windows XP CD-ROM.

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cloakdoa

Ok there is a way to this.

If you have the XP cd, - go in to the bios and make sure that the first boot device is the cdrom. Stick the cd in and boot it.
If you wish to clean off the parttion and reinstall it, if the xp has been there for a while you can reinstall it.

If you need to recover it, there will be a screen that asks you do you want to repair, you can hit this one, or exit out of the setup and type chkdsk /r. This command tells XP to fix itself. And it works by checking the integrity of the files. Chkdsk has always been around even in 2000, and before then. Chkdsk is the dos utility to fix file system errors. I had my first blue screen under XP last week and this was after all the new security updates.

A different version of Scandisk exists, but it is not scandisk, it's ;located in the start menu under the accessories, system tools area.

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