From Dos when I attempt to format the c drive to do a clean install of Win2000 this is the error message I receive: Format can not run because the volume is in use by another process. Format may run if this volume is dismounted first. All open handles to this volume would then be invalid. Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? when i select yes this is the msg i receive cannot lock the drive the volume is still in use. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO FORMAT THIS DRIVE, IM NO GENIUS BUT I AM COMPUTER LITERATE AND HAVE DONE MANY INSTALLS AND JUST NEED TO HAVE SOME HELP IN THIS AREA. THANKYOU

Have you tried booting with a DOS floppy instead of from the hard drive and running FDISK?

Set your BIOS to boot from CD. Run setup and you should be given an option of formating as part of the setup. That way you can use NTFS instead of FAT32 if you choose.

I tried booting from the cd rom and setup and it does not offer me a format option, only to repair or install and nothing else, any other suggestions, (besides the inevitable of buying a new harddrive) thankyou for your help...

Hi: Are you able to fdisk? Do you see any partitions? Personally, i would get delpart.exe, eliminate any dos or non-dos partitions, fdisk /mbr or vice versa and fdisk it again and format. Let us know how this turns out. HTH

Luv-it when "QuoteOnQuote" tech support specialist screw up a customers machine then rush to post here for a fix. *giggles*

First of all thank you to those of you who offered me some help, I did find the option to format on the 2000 install and fixed the problem, and for the person who is just obviously bored with life and has nothing better to do than find someone to disrespect and degrade because he/she feels inadequate themself I would appreciate it if you keep your comments and thoughts to yourself as I never claimed to be a tech support specialist nor did I screw up anyones computer, I am however learning and trying to help my husband fix his. So find someone else to insult. Thank you very much.