Cannot format HD using 98 start up disk

[pappasplace]

I was told to use a windows 98 startup disk to fdisk and reformat a hard drive before installing Windows XP. I deleted the partitions and created a Primary DOS partition. At the a:\ I typed in " format c: " . Said bad command. ????

[jimnyc]

You should use the XP cd to do the fdisk and format during the re-installation.

Here's a short and sweet tutorial:

http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/windowstips/jump/0,24331,3356336,00.html

[pappasplace]

This is my problem. I have a bootable Win XP cd, but it will not boot. This is why I am formating the HD with a Windows 98 Boot Disk. I have reinstalled xp using this cd with no issues.

[jimnyc]

Was the machine powered up and booted from floppy, or did you put the floppy in after the machine was already running? I know it sounds stupid, but have to ask! The machine has to be booted from floppy for this to work.

Did you verify the floppy has the format command on it? If so, make sure you issue the proper command:

format c: /s

Here's a link to an fdisk tutorial so that you can make sure you did that portion correctly.
http://www.compguystechweb.com/troubleshooting/fdisk/fdisk_run.html

If you need a specific boot disk, here's a place to get more:
http://www.drd.dyndns.org/fr_index.html?/disks.html

What I don't see there that you will need is a boot disk that initializes the cdrom as well. If you boot from the newly formatted hard drive, you still won't be able to access the cdrom until you load drivers for it. You'll need "mscdex.exe" on the drive or floppy with the appropriate code in the autoexec.bat in order for it to work.

This would be much easier if you could get your bios to recognize your cdrom as a bootable device before the HDD!

[satis]

y'know, I don't believe it really matters. If you have a win98 boot disk, you should be able to load cd rom drivers. If you can access the winxp cd in dos mode, just switch to the following directory:

x:\i386

(x: being the cd-rom drive letter)

and then type 'winnt'. That'll launch the dos-mode winxp installer. If I'm not mistaken, you'll have the option to partition and format from within the installation program, even if you are in DOS mode.

[pappasplace]

The machine was powered up with the floppy boot disk in the drive. It goes through fdisk prompts ok until I get to the " format c: " dos command. This is where I get the " Bad Command " error message.
If I use the command c: /s will this load the "format command " to the floppy.

I can see that the cdrom drivers are loading.

My problem started initially when started a " system repair " in XP. The process went to 34% and stopped, saying there was a hardware conflict. The only hardware on the machine was keyboard, usb mouse. I removed the modem before the repair process started. At this point I could not do anything more. I rebooted the machine and always came back to the same point and that was 34% then stopped.

The machine was working before doing the repair, except for one problem and this is what I was trying to repair. So I am beyond that point now and the drive has been " fdisked ". I tried booting from the Windows XP cdrom which is bootable, but it will not boot.

[jimnyc]

Since your cdrom drivers are loading, reboot on the floppy - then switch to the cdrom with XP in it - then just type "setup"

This should start the install process where you will be able to format.

[pappasplace]

When I switch to the cd rom drive and type d:\>setup. I get an error saying " This program cannot be run in DOS mode"

[RocketJeff]

That's not a valid command...

Type d:\setup (then <enter>) (no >)

or

Type d: (then <enter>)
then Type setup (then <enter>)

[satis]

erm, no, it's saying that because setup.exe isn't a 16-bit dos application. It's a 32-bit windows application and can't be run in dos mode. d:\i386\winnt is the dos executable.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307848&Product=winxp