Foarmatting Windows xp Partition

[ziloo]

Hello folks,

There is a system with windows xp on C: partition, and
I like to format that partition.  What is the best way to
do this?

Thank you

ziloo

[Allan]

Boot to your Windows CD and begin the installation process. Early on you'll be given the option to format.

[ziloo]

Has anybody heard the word "Foarmat"?  It must be
a new word  !!

Anyways.... the installation blue screen tells me that it
shall install the windows xp on the same partition that
another windows exist, and that might cause problems  . 

1- Should I just go ahead and do the installation  ?
2- How can I format the partition without installing
windows xp  ?

ziloo

[patio]

If you format without installing you will have an empty partition...

Clean Install of XP...

[ziloo]

Good to hear from you Patio!

Would you please answer my two questions,
despite the fact that they are practical or not?

Thank you

ziloo

[Allan]

You said you want to format, not install - correct? If so then no, do not install anything. Just format the drive or partition.

[ziloo]

The question is what software should I use to
format the C: partition where my xp resides?

ziloo

[Allan]

The XP CD!

[Geek-9pm]

It would appear that you wish to only format the partition without installing the operating system. Doing so will render the hard drive unportable. It will not boot if it is placed as the boot drive in your BIOS.
It is possible to do this from the standard Windows XP install CD. But the on screen instructions to not make it perfectly clear how to do this.
An easier way to do this is just to boot up any general utility disk that can format NTFS partitions. There are some Linux distributions that boot off of a CD and have the ability to delete, create and format NTFS systems.
Another alternative is to use the ultimate Windows boot CD. You can find that using the Google search. Or http://www.ubcd4win.com/
A popular product is called Active@ Boot which offers a free 10 day trial. For some video tutorials on what it can do here is a link to their site:

http://www.livecd.com/livecd_flash.htm

Personally, I think it's overpriced. Especially if all you want is just to format the drive.
Look around through the various installation CD should have and you may already have a bookable CD that is capable of formatting your C.: drive. for example, the drivers CD on some motherboards actually contains a bookable DOS that can format large drives.

[Allan]

Why complicate things? All he has to do is boot to his XP Cd and format.

[ziloo]

Hello Allan,

Why complicate things? All he has to do is boot to his XP Cd and format.

1- On my Win98 CD, I had the format utility that I could
readily use to format any partition.  However I couldn't
find such feature on my xp CD.

2- Now, should I want to re-install a fresh copy of
windows xp in place of the old copy of xp on the
same partition, does the installation program
destroy the previous windows, or there could be
some problems?

And thanks to Geek-9pm for his comments!

ziloo

[Allan]

YOU NEED TO SELECT THE OPTION TO FORMAT THE DRIVE.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348
http://www.theeldergeek.com/formatting_drives_using_xp_cd.htm

[ziloo]

Great job Allan!

There is one thing that I was afraid of, and it is not
very clear here (or I don't quite grok it).  If I have
other D: and E: partitions on the HD and I want to
keep those intact and only format C:..... then what?
By removing C: partition and reassigning it, does
anything nasty happen to poor D: and E: partitions?

ziloo

[Allan]

Why are you talking about deleting partitions? DO NOT delete any partitions. Just format the damned thing.

[ziloo]

Hey...stop yelling yelling at me....I am very sensitive.....

Alright, I found out what I "was not" doing!  The blue
screen kept telling me that I shouldn't be doing this, and
what I am doing is not kosher, and I will contract a
skin disease and all that, and the instruction for the
"damned formatting" was at the very last screen  !!!!
The formatting process for windows xp has become
fully incorporated into xp installation.

I am formatting the %$#^&*@ thing right now as we
speak  !  Thanks Allan

ziloo