Re: Formatting C Drive

Mike Flood wrote:
> I think the "tech support" person who told you to reformat your hard
> drive because a printer couldn't be installed should be shot! (or at
> least assigned to tech support for Osama Bin Laden.
>
> "jaguar54" <deegeewa@xxxxxxxxxxx(donotspam)> wrote in message
> news:147357A7-7C15-46F8-A2E7-F1EC6B335A5A@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> I am running Windows XP (Home). I am unable to load a brand new
>> printer - Hewlett Packard 3015 PCL 6. The installation process only
>> reaches 42%, then
>> recycles itself to begin the load process again. I contacted HP who
>> advised
>> me to attempt to load the printer on someone else's computer also
>> running XP
>> (home). This I did...and the software loaded perfectly. I was then
>> advised
>> to format my hard drive. I have backed up all my files to CD. However,
>> when
>> I run the "format c:" cmd in the cmd line I get the msg: "Verifying
>> 76308M.
>> Format cannot run because the volume is in use by another process.
>> Format may
>> run if this volume is dismounted first. ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS
>> VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID. Would you like to force a dismount on
>> this volume <Y/N>. When I go ahead to dismount I get another msg
>> saying: "Cannot lock the
>> drive. The volume is still in use".
>> Can anyone pse explain in layman's terms what I have to do to
>> successfully format my hard drive to enable me to re-install Windows
>> XP (home), and start
>> all over again. I have already done a "clean disk" scan of the
>> computer. Pse
>> remember I am a basic user with no in depth knowledge of the
>> systems. I therefore need someone to explain in fairly simple terms
>> what I need to do.
>> By the way, I have SP2 loaded on my machine. Thanking anyone out
>> there who
>> can help me.
>> --
>> Yours hopefully!

1) Formatting your HD just so you can correctly install a printer driver is
overkill. Try uninstalling the printer software first, then reinstall it.
2) If you REALLY want to reinstall XP "clean" (by formatting the HD), here
are a few pointers:

a) The message you got after trying to run "format C:" on your system disk
from within Windows (Yes, you are still within Windows, even in the
commandline. XP is different than previous versions of Windows. Under
Windows XP, it is not possible to get out of Windows by running a
commandline, since there is no DOS layer in Windows XP.
b) It is not possible to format the system partition from within Windows
(any version of Windows). That would be like a snake swallowing its own
tail. As long as the HD is in use by Windows, you will be unable to format
the HD (even the "format" command in Windows XP is a Windows command. That
is, it still uses the HD to actually run. AS long as it uses the HD,
Windows will not be able to unlock the HD.)
c) If you truly want to format your C: drive, follow these steps.
1) First, make sure your CD drive is the first device in the chain of
devices used to boot your computer. To do this, start your BIOS setup
program. This is usually accomplished differently with each motherboard.
In ASUS motherboards, for example, the BIOS setup program is started by
pressing the "Delete" key just as the POST is running (the part of the boot
process which shows a memory test. It will appear on the screen right under
the BIOS message just as you turn the machine on.) Press your correct key
at this time. To find out the correct key for your machine, look in your
Users Manual for your motherboard or computer.
2) Once within the BIOS setup program, find the section which pertains to
"Boot". Then set the boot order to where your CD (or DVD) drive is first in
order of boot devices. This could be the best way to set it: 1) CD(DVD)
drive 2) Floppy 3) HD.
3) Make sure you save this change BEFORE you leave the BIOS setup program.
There is usually a key assignment which says "Save and Exit". Use this
option.
4) Before leaving the BIOS Setup program, put your Windows XP installation
CD in the drive and close the drive door.
5) At this point, your machine will reboot. This is fine
6) AFTER the POST starts, a message will display which says "Press a key to
boot from CD" (or words to that effect). I usually press "Enter". You will
only have about 5 seconds to press a key once this message displays on the
screen. If the XP Setup program does not start, and Windows starts instead,
just turn the machine off, (or press the "Reset" key) so that the machine
reboots. Do "6)" as often as necessary until the XP Setup program starts.
After this, you will eventually be given the opportunity to repartition your
HD. Make sure you delete all partitions.
*** NOTE *** Deleting all partitions will destroy ANY data you have on the
HD. Make sure you back up any data BEFORE beginning this whole process.
After deleting all partitions, create a new partition (the XP setup program
will walk you through it. You can use the "Up" and Down" arrow keys to go
back and forth between items. Once all partitions are deleted, create a NEW
partition. It must be at least 10 gigabytes (10,000 Megabytes) in size. I
advise everyone to create their system partition at least 10 gig in size, or
you will wind up having to resize your partition later.

Once this partition is created, tell the XP setup program to install XP on
the partition you just created. Just follow the text of the Setup program.
The process is very clear. After that, the XP setup program will write all
needed files to this new partition and begin installing XP. Do NOT take the
XP install disk out of the drive until the setup program finishes installing
XP, and you see the startup video.

After XP is properly installed, you will have to install one or more
devices, such as sound cards, video cards, network cards, modems. You do
this by using the setup disks for each device which were supplied by the
manufacturers. Then you must install all programs, such as Office, etc.
After all programs are installed, you can copy the data you saved before
beginning the XP setup program back to the HD. The best tool to use to back
up your data is the "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" (found on the XP
distribution disk). This tool can be run from within any version of Windows
98, ME, NT, or Windows 2000.

I hope this helps you.

--
Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread,
so that the thread may be kept intact.
==============================


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