formatting a western digital HD

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11-10-2003
Klinerr1

formatting a western digital HD

ok im sort of putting togethor an old computer just for fun. im pretty much finished but the hard drive im using was in anohter computer i just took it out and plopped it in this one. it has windows on it but everything on it is messed up mainly cause the hardware i have is not what it has drivers for and isntead of going through all this crap to make windows start correctly i decided it would be best to format it

i tried westerndigital.com i couldnt find a format tool. anyone know how i can get a hold of one that i can run off a disk?
11-10-2003
Brian

Most operating system installers are capable of formatting a hard disk (any version of windows after 95, I believe, freebsd and many linux distros), and considering a blank disk isn't very useful, you might as well use an operating system installer.

Failing that, use fdisk, or a large magnet.
11-10-2003
Klinerr1

if i use a magnet it wont like damage it will it? hehe

and is fdisk a dos console command right?
11-10-2003
Klinerr1

alright it has 95 on it how can i start it so i can type in dos commands? and work in the console i tried holding f5 i tried holding lots of stuff
11-10-2003
Scourfish

western digital does have a hard drive tool that you boot from a floppy, you can download it at their website;

The downside is that the tool uses Caldera DR DOS; and we all know how much everybody wants to show their support for SCO
11-10-2003
Klinerr1

i looked thru the site i couldnt find it.... maybe some help?
11-10-2003
Thantos

I must say that if you don't know how to format a drive, maybe you aren't the best person to be installing the OS and heck even building the computer.

But get your hands on a win98 boot disk. It comes with fdisk and format.
11-10-2003
Klinerr1

i had all this $$$$ actually from building this computer i had it on disks for times i needed it yadah i put it in the back my closet and it never returned! and caledra dos is a utility i liked to use but i cant seem to find it anywhere :\ but i havent messed with none this crap for atleast a year or 2 ive actually stopped programming to my copmuter mind has gone stupid
11-11-2003
GSLR

try here ,,

saw it in a earlier post www.bootdisk.com

or else start the win 95 os and make a startup win 95 3.5" disk,
copy fdisk and format.com onto this system disk.

Restart , leave 3.5" disk in drive and this should get you to a dos prompt ( If bios is set correctly)

type format c: /s at the command prompt.

thats it i think !!

:D
11-11-2003
Klinerr1

i really just need a copy of caldrea dr dos that i can run on a regular floppy disk. i been looking aruond like crazy for a download. does anyone have it or know where i can get it. its apparetnyl not on the site anymore
11-11-2003
Scourfish

Quote:

Originally posted by Klinerr1
i really just need a copy of caldrea dr dos that i can run on a regular floppy disk. i been looking aruond like crazy for a download. does anyone have it or know where i can get it. its apparetnyl not on the site anymore

I would advise against affiliating yourself with SCO or using their products in any way.
11-11-2003
Klinerr1

well i just know that caledra dr dos works ive used it before to delete and create partitions. i find it fairly easy. im just after doing the same routines i did before when working with this computer originally over the summer.
11-11-2003
ober

First of all, shouldn't this be a Tech Board thread??

Secondly: http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Click on DOS 6.22 (the first one), download, execute to unzip to floppy. Shutdown your computer, reboot with the floppy in. That should bring up DOS. The floppy will have fdisk and format on it.

And I must agree with what Thantos said:
>>I must say that if you don't know how to format a drive, maybe you aren't the best person to be installing the OS and heck even building the computer
11-11-2003
Klinerr1

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian
Most operating system installers are capable of formatting a hard disk (any version of windows after 95, I believe, freebsd and many linux distros), and considering a blank disk isn't very useful, you might as well use an operating system installer.

Failing that, use fdisk, or a large magnet.

i used fdisk, i deleted the old partition on it htat had windows on it. so i made a new primary partition in its place. but i cant figure out how you assign it to be a fat32 partition... i left the other small dos partition on it. (of course)
11-11-2003
ober

that's what format is for.....
11-11-2003
Klinerr1

it made a partition but isntead of making it a type fat32, it just says uknown
11-11-2003
ZerOrDie

:rolleyes: better bring it to the computer tech's... Such a complex operation is obviously something you cant perform.
11-11-2003
Klinerr1

I CAN DO IT, if i could $$$$ing find a copy of caledra DR DOs
11-11-2003
Scourfish

Quote:

Originally posted by Klinerr1
I CAN DO IT, if i could $$$$ing find a copy of caledra DR DOs

What did I tell you about endorsing SCO?
11-11-2003
Klinerr1

and what did i say after that? anyways i got it from my friend tim. and now i got it all working and crap so im happy.
11-12-2003
ober

I gave you full instructions on how to do all of it. WTF do you need some stupid Caldera crap for?

N3\/\/bs :rolleyes:
11-16-2003
Klinerr1

didnt i say it wouldnt let me make a fat32 partition using fdisk?