format c:\ doesnt work on my DOS version is there another format command that does?t/y fr your help

Please confirm which version of DOS are you useing? (You state OS as 98)

Are you useing a bootdisk?

If so is FORMAT.EXE on it?

Please reply with a message to let us all know we are on the right track...

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

i dont know the version of dos, how do i find out? i am using the windows 98 cd to reintall windows 98.t/y for you help again

Why oh why is the description of the problem always seem to be "it doesn't work" ?

What, exactly happens when you enter the command, and what are the circumstances (boot disk, hard drive - what)?

We have nothing against ideas. We're against people spreading them. - General Augusto Pinochet of Chile

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

format.exe doesn t work either...by that i mean that when i type it and hit enter the computer responds with incorrect file name or bad command...how do I find out the version of does the computer has?

Don't worry about the DOS version, Windows 95 - 98 all use 'DOS7 or 7.1' - but those are unofficial names.

All MS-DOS have a format command.

The error message that you've (almost) quoted:

'bad command or filename'

means that DOS doesn't know where the command is.

I'm not all that familiar with Win98 CDs - presumably there is a format.exe on there.

Might be further ahead to use a boot disk - are you booting from this CD?

We have nothing against ideas. We're against people spreading them. - General Augusto Pinochet of Chile

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

Ok - the format command can likely be found on your CD in the Win98 directory - however, if you can't boot from the CD or do not have a bootdisk (with CD support), you may encounter problems.

Your question really pertains to installing Windows 98, and probably would have been better posted in that forum.

Maybe this installation FAQ will be helpful

Also - bootdisk.com

We have nothing against ideas. We're against people spreading them. - General Augusto Pinochet of Chile

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

The file as said above that you need is "format.com" or "format.exe," I've forgotten which. It is NOT normally copied to a standard Whendoz98 bootdisk made on your computer. It DOES exist on your Whinedox98 cd, as said, above, in \Win98.

The basic command is:-

FORMAT C:

I generally use some options:-

FORMAT C: /U /C

If you enter HELP FORMAT you should see a full description of this command and all available options.

Good luck - Keep us posted.

The Windows 98 CD which is a bootable CD is designed to AutoStart to the Setup Menu only. Which if you already have Windows 98 installed may be the Maintenance Menu (I think)

To wipe a main drive clean with it.

Boot from CD
(I take it your BIOS is setup for this)
First locate FORMAT.EXE (or COM)
Then Change to that Directory/Folder
Type FORMAT C and press Enter

This is because the CD has no Path Statement at startup.

If that does not work. Obtain a Windows 98 Setup Bootdisk that includes FORMAT

Both Bootdisk.Com & my PowerLoad Bootdisk Project(which all contain FDisk & Format as standard) contain such Disk Images.

Please reply with a message to let us all know we are on the right track...

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

Format.com;
"...can likely be found on your CD in the Win98 directory..."

jboy is correct.

Which version you attempt to use is dependent upon the io.sys and command.com files loaded on bootup. ie; If you're booting to DOS 7.1 (Windows 98) you use the version of format.com that came with that O/S, which resides in the Win98 directory on the CD.

Welcome back Dan Penny ; )

We have nothing against ideas. We're against people spreading them. - General Augusto Pinochet of Chile

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

i loaded windows 98 on to an old HD then runned it and used it to format the drive by looking the drive with my computer and then format option.i didnt get a chance to use the format.com command but i will the next time regardless t/y 4 all yur help.A.R.Jr.

Hey jboy. Thanks. I had a great vacation. I'll get an email off to you in the near furture. ;>)

Glad to hear it : )

A.R.jr. - well, if everything's working to your satisfaction, that's good.

We have nothing against ideas. We're against people spreading them. - General Augusto Pinochet of Chile

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

Hi,

Here's what's on a win98 startup floppy, made from a working 98se.

Volume in drive A has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 288A-8B81

Directory of a:\

23-04-99 22:22 1,103 AUTOEXEC.BAT
23-04-99 22:22 629 CONFIG.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 1,416 SETRAMD.BAT
23-04-99 22:22 14,764 README.TXT
23-04-99 22:22 6,855 FINDRAMD.EXE
23-04-99 22:22 12,663 RAMDRIVE.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 14,386 ASPI4DOS.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 21,971 BTCDROM.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 29,620 ASPICD.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 30,955 BTDOSM.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 35,330 ASPI2DOS.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 37,564 ASPI8DOS.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 40,792 ASPI8U2.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 64,425 FLASHPT.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 93,242 EXTRACT.EXE
23-04-99 22:22 63,916 FDISK.EXE
23-04-99 22:22 68,871 DRVSPACE.BIN
23-04-99 22:22 93,890 COMMAND.COM
23-04-99 22:22 33,191 HIMEM.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 41,302 OAKCDROM.SYS
23-04-99 22:22 272,206 EBD.CAB
23-04-99 22:22 49,575 FORMAT.COM
22 File(s) 1,028,666 bytes
0 Dir(s) 200,704 bytes free

M2