Tom's Guide | Tom's Hardware | Tom's Games
 |
 |
 |
I made a post about not being able to format my hard drive so I could change from Vista to XP. Now the post is gone.....
Nope, it was a different post.
Anyways,
I can't format my Hard Drive. It keeps coming up with error messages such as:
"You cannot format this drive because it contains the copy of Windows you are currently using"
and
"Format cannot run because it is in use by another process. Cannot lock the drive. It is still in use"Any suggestions? I'm not a computer whiz here...
0 
Your thread(s) may vanish for a number of reasons without you being able to bring it back, that's how things go around here & most of us have gotten used to it - in time you will to.
0
I do not see any problems here at all.
0. Is Vista the only OS (Operating System) installed on the system as we speak?
1. What is the Vista build?
2. If #0 is yes - are you wanting to dualboot XP & Vista at some point?
3. What XP version are we talking about here?
If you think you'll be content with XP as the only OS, all you need to do is simply reboot your system from XP's install disc and you'll be given a few options - one of which will be to wipe or delete partition(s) on the drive during the install process.
You can wipe the Vista partition at that point and load Windows XP there after and that should take care of everything.Goodluck.
0
Yes Vista is the only OS
It's Vista Beta 2 (5342)
Don't want to dual boot
XP Pro
I've tried rebooting with the install disc in the drive but the computer just bypasses it without giving any options.
As for wiping or deleting partitions...not a clue how.
0
"I've tried rebooting with the install disc in the drive but the computer just bypasses it without giving any options."
Is this an OEM system (Dell, Gateway)?
Is your CD/DVD drive setup as the primary/default boot device in the BIOS?
If you are not sure you need to go into the BIOS and ensure this is setup accordingly, usually the "esc" or "delete" key will get you into most BIOSes but YMMV and you'll need to use the applicable key to be able to get into your in order to verify the boot order.
0
I have 2 Cd/DVD drives. I went into BIOS and switched them around (so that my D: drive is the primary). I popped in the disc and still nothing.....
Should I use partition magic to partition the drive and wipe it?
0
You can do that and you can also use a 98SE bootdisk but I'm still miffed why you are unable to boot from either of your optical drives.
0
i'm miffed too....
Looks like we're stuck with Vista since we can't format our drive!
The crappy thing is that Vista runs.. what.. 1GB of Ram.. and we only have 768MB... so we have major lag.
0
Bad Per, Bad!
You still need to set your CD/DVD as the 1st boot device in your Bios or you will be back with the same problem!
50-Calibre
0
Possible that the disk that contains the Vista OS is not a bootable disk.
http://www.russelltexas.com/delpart.htm
Try a program called delpart. And boot from a floppy.
Larry
Today seems like a good day to chew through the restraints.
0
RM HALL,
"I went into BIOS and switched them around (so that my D: drive is the primary)."
You've made "D:", the first boot device, in the boot order, correct? And that didn't work, right. Have you tried, to put/use the other optical drive, as the first? When it's starting/booting up, does the LED, on either of the optical drives light-up/flash?? If it does, is that the drive, the OS CD is in?? Just checking, never know :-) Is there a setting in your BIOS, like 'boot other device'. If there is, enable it. Is this computer, built by a namebrand e.g. dell hp gateway ect.. If it is, could you list the model and manufact, thanks. If it's home built, what is the motherboard, model and manufact, thanks. Just might be able to find that last thing out. By reading the POST screen, maybe ;-) If it goes by to fast, you can stop it, freeze it. By using your [Pause] key (tap it), on your keyboard when the screen is shown. After reading it, press the Pause key, or Enter, to continue. Could even download the flo.. disk set, from MS to install it that way. But, myself, I'd want to figure out why it's not booting to the OS CD. Ahhh, because, that can come in handy. And one might even say, it's necessary :-) One, just might...
Good Luck,
CrazyOne
0
RM HALL,
P.S. How did YOU get the Vista, on this computer?? One does wonder, about these things, right. Well, at least I do anyway ;-) Just curious, mind you... Seeing, as I don't think this new computer came with it...
0
just for info
Re: active killdisk can also run from a boot floppy.
CrazyOne ,, the same from experts-Exchange?
0  |
 |
 |
This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.
| Ads by Google |
