what do i do? this keeps popping up

Are you serious?
I will assume you are.

You don't do it.
Why would you want to format C:?
Did someone tell you to do this in a chat room? :bugeye:
If you are getting this message you most likely have windows installed on the C:, and if you did format it you would wipe your whole computer out.

If you really want to anyway...

Boot with a floppy disk.
At the prompt, type:
Format c: /u /s
Then say yes.

Or, you can just fdisk it.

Originally posted by one_raven
You don't do it.
Why would you want to format C:? There are many valid reasons for wanting to format the C drive. Maybe he's selling the computer, wants to install an OS...could be anything.

soooo....how do i fdisk?


i used to think i was rather good with comps :(

im using xp home btw

Another way to format a drive or partition is to take out the actual harddrive and hook it up to another computer, then format it like you normally format a drive. XP makes it easy to do this, since it detects the harddrive automatically and you can access it from either Explorer or Disk Manager.

I think, as a general rule of thumb, if you have to ask how to format a hard drive or fdisk a drive you shouldn't be doing it.

To format you will need:

Bootdisk. download then put one on a floppy . www.bootdisk.com

A cd copy of your OS (e.g windows xp, windows 2000 etc.)

All needed drivers (if you have xp this wont be necesary for most pieces of hardware but some might still be needed depending on what you have)


Formatting will completely take away your operating system if thats where u installed it. Once your operating system is gone you will need to re-install it. When i say operating system i mean (windows xp or whatever)


Since you have to ask that question i really dont reccomend you do so since you will end up screwing up your computer and you will have to pay a technician 100 dollors to do something that takes minimal effort.

nevertheless, now what you are doing before you reformat.

To reformat:
pop in the boot disk you created (download a windows ME bootdisk and dont ask why)

a command prompt will come up after loading.

type this command >> format c:

say yes and let good times roll.



When i reformat i can compare it to life when i take a shower. nice and clean and ready to go. feels good especially when you junked up your computer.

what do i do? this keeps popping upThe window indicates that you are likely using a NTFS file system and your XP Home is booted from there. It's unlikely that you can format it via a DOS bootable floppy because DOS can't see it. You can use FDISK to delete and create partitions though. If I were you, I would mount the hard disk on a different XP system and format it from there.

Just insert a linux CD and kill 2 birds with one stone.

Another way to format a drive or partition is to take out the actual harddrive and hook it up to another computer, then format it like you normally format a drive. XP makes it easy to do this, since it detects the harddrive automatically and you can access it from either Explorer or Disk Manager.Maybe I'm overlooking something really obvious, but what's the point of going through the trouble of taking a drive out to format it? Wouldn't it be easier to simply leave it in the machine when you format it?

Yes it would be easier to leave the drive in when formatting it. But I was in the same position as kanpeki, I didn't know how to format a drive when I had only one drive hooked up to the computer. So, I knew I had to boot up the drive I wanted to format without Windows starting from it, and the only way I knew how to do that was by taking the drive out of the computer, putting it in another computer, and then formatting it.

It was a pain in the ass to remove the drive and its cables then plug the drive into another computer. It seemed like the only option at the time. I offered the advice if someone didn't want to deal with the command prompt.

just put the win xp cd in and reboot and then boot from cd from there just over right the c drive.. if u want to lol