Hi, I have been trying to format my only HDD in DOS using various boot disks (XP, 2k, 98, DOS 6.22) but they all appear to have the same problem. When I issue the command "FORMAT C:" it says "invalid directory", as if I don't even have a C: drive. Also if I issue the command "C:" it won't switch to my C: drive, and says it's invalid. I have no idea what to do, my computers a wreck, and I need your help! =D HHEEELLLLPPPPP!

place a cd in the cd drive, xp w2k what ever, start the installation, and you will be able to format the drive from there. perhaps you system drive is not C mine at home is G: try using a cd and see how you get on rgds, Mark

Hi, First of all, I'd you to reply me in the follwing: 1- What's system files are you using? I mean FAT32 OR NTFS? 2- Is your HDD partitioned or not?If so. Then which partition Drive did you set active? SO, I can show you how to HANDLE your problem. Thanks, Mania

Need a boatload of information to help you: Go into fdisk and see how many partitions you have. Remove them all, that will hose down your harddisk, then set one large partition for the whole disk, and make it primary and active. DOS should now assign it the letter C. NOW back out out to DOS and try the format command. Don't forget, when you first insert your boot disk, say YES to large disk support (thats FAT32) and yes to CDROM support. Bera in mind if you are installing XP or Windows 2000, they operate better on NTFS.

Looks like you have NTFS. To format the NTFS, you have to delete the partition first, then create it and format it. Use the fdisk or norton gdisk to delete the non-dos(NTFS is non-dos) partition.