DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

formatting

5 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/formatting.33019/

M
mastery20 Original post #1
Jul 30, 2006 at 11:19 PM
i am unable to format drive C: help me how to format when ever i am formatting it gives me a error messages ("WINDOW IS UNABLE TO COMPLETE FORMAT ")

HELP ME
Choto Cheeta
Jul 31, 2006 at 12:22 AM
hey... u cant do that while running windows C: is a Primary drive with boot.ini in it... u cant format while running windows...

u have to boot with any bootable OS installation or any such CD/DVD then useing the FORMAT command to complete the format... :)
M
Jul 31, 2006 at 11:16 PM
thank u for replying me . i have loaded my os in drive d: before i had in drive c: . i want to format drive c: how to format
digiFriend
Aug 1, 2006 at 11:27 AM
even if you have loaded your os in D: drive, there are files" BOOT.ini, ntdetect.com, ntldr. " this three files in C: drive, helps to boot your os in D: drive.
if you format C: drive, you will not able to boot your D: drive os.
first copy this three files on another drive. boot with bootable cd/floppy, in command prompt type "format c:" . after format is completed, copy those three files back to C: drive.
JGuru
JGuru #5
Aug 1, 2006 at 4:04 PM
@Mastery20, you can't format C drive when the O.S is running. Boot from a Bootable
Windows 98/XP CD and format C drive!! @Saurav_Cheeta has already told you the
solution. Now don't ask the question again!!!