Can't Format C

**EvBladeRunnervE** · 04-19-2004

most of the operating system is in your RAM after load, so it definately should be possible. It might not be if you have a sys service on that constantly reads the HD though

**Waldo2k2** · 04-19-2004

obers right, for the format to complete you must restart your computer. Hell you have to reboot the computer after running fdisk in dos, you definetly have to do it in xp. What the hell are we arguing about anyway? Did this guy get his problem fixed or not?

**ober** · 04-19-2004

Originally Posted by EvBladeRunnervE

most of the operating system is in your RAM after load, so it definately should be possible. It might not be if you have a sys service on that constantly reads the HD though

You're kidding me, right? Take a few computer science/engineering classes and then come talk to me.

**caroundw5h** · 04-19-2004

Originally Posted by Waldo2k2

What the hell are we arguing about anyway? Did this guy get his problem fixed or not?

which is the main point of this thread.

but yeah, thanks waldo i got it fixed. I simply restarted xp and booted from the recovery disk and it was automatic.

The question still warrants an answer though. why writet code such as what i posted before, if it won't do anything. It makes sense what ober is saying though. I just don't understand why that code was posted. Isthere even a way to delete a hd with an .exe? i'm not that advance yet

**EvBladeRunnervE** · 04-19-2004

You're kidding me, right? Take a few computer science/engineering classes and then come talk to me.

I never said It could be completely done in XP, but you can format somewhat while in WinXP.

I have taken a few CS courses, and I know that usually what is in RAM is only what the computer is currently working on; however, most of the OS's I have worked with keep all of their essentials loaded in memory all of the time, allowing one to format the disk while you have the OS running if they so choose.

TO OP:
basically, if you are interested in a full format, it usually cannot be done in WinXP.

**ober** · 04-20-2004

Originally Posted by caroundw5h

Isthere even a way to delete a hd with an .exe?

Well... not really. Even the format utility is a .com file. You could write your own format utility to work like the format program... you just need to write zeros to the HD.

>>I have taken a few CS courses, and I know that usually what is in RAM is only what the computer is currently working on; however, most of the OS's I have worked with keep all of their essentials loaded in memory all of the time, allowing one to format the disk while you have the OS running if they so choose

Partially true. But the thing you have to realize is that an OS is a giant I/O machine. Settings are not stored in RAM. They are mostly stored in flat files or some sort of database file structure, and for the most part, there would be no reason to keep these files in RAM. Do you have an activity light on your HD? Watch it during even the simplest of system operations. It will light up. Why? Because the OS is accessing some file on the HD, either reading from it or writing to it. Even the smallest of OSes require interaction with system files that are left on the HD during operation. Sure... you open them, they get transferred to RAM, you work with them, and then maybe once the file is saved, it remains in RAM, but you're not going to sit there and tell me that the OS loads all of these various config files into RAM are you?

Most of the time, the RAM could not even begin to hold all of the required files and still run your other programs. That's where you get into paging.... but that's another explaination for another day.

**Waldo2k2** · 04-20-2004

basically, the easiest way to do it would be in assembly. Most assembly programs can be compiled small enough, and require no shared dll's (one reason xp won't format itself), that they will run completely in memory and then you can do your dirty work. Like ober said, just write zero's to the drive (just don't write zero's to the first few sectors, that will require a drive utility to get it working again)

**RealityFusion** · 04-20-2004

I have been trying to format my hdd also. I created a boot disk and it starts me in the a:\ drive. I type in cd c: but it tells me its an invalid drive specification.

**ober** · 04-21-2004

Depending on your bootdisk and whether or not it created a RAMdrive, your HD may not be c:

Besides, if you are trying to format, you need to be at the A:\ prompt when you type "format c:"

**caroundw5h** · 04-21-2004

Originally Posted by RealityFusion

I have been trying to format my hdd also. I created a boot disk and it starts me in the a:\ drive. I type in cd c: but it tells me its an invalid drive specification.

is your hdd on C: ? and what os are you using? do you have any recovery disk from the manufacturer?

**RoD** · 04-21-2004

caround, to answer your question that code; Some older operating systems such as win98 would let you begin the process in windows, thats why. Hell i have seen people delete the windows folder in win98 lol.

**caroundw5h** · 04-21-2004

Thanks rod, I thought i was going nuts for a minute there. I know my girl use to do that on her 98, I just wasn't sure if i remembered it correctly. BTW aren't the majority of OS still using win98.