Using FDISK to format?

Iridium · Dec 3, 2004, 04:19 PM

Not sure if this would be the right forum for this or not, but here goes. I am having issues installing a clean copy of XP home on my PC and I am having an issue atm. I am using KillDisk to wipe the drive, but when I load the program it tells me that I have an incorrect partition on the drive, so I have ignored that and I am currently wiping it clean. My question is, what is the sequence to format the whole drive, wiping the partitions out completely and leaving me with one full disk without any partitions from DOS. It has been awhile since I have had to do this and was hoping someone could help me out. All of the sequences and commands even please, like how I changed from a: drive to c: then either format C:.. or whatever it takes to completely wipe the drive of all partions. I can't remember the sequence. Thanks, not sure if I can even do this.....

Did that make sense?

Many thanks in advance,
Ir

mkk · Dec 3, 2004, 04:44 PM

If it's a regular WinXP Home disc and not some Dell/Compaq/Crap rescue-CD then you should be able to boot on it and in the beginning of the installation procedure get menues for handling partitions and afterwards formatting the partition you pick for installation. That's a much easier way than meddling with the old FDISK tool.

Vikingod · Dec 3, 2004, 04:47 PM

there is no DOS in XP. Boot from the XP cd (press f12 on boot and select your cd drive). select "install xp without repairing" or something to that effect. Delete the current partition, create a new partition, install windows to new partition. It will format under NTFS or FAT, whichever you select. thats it in a nutshell, a very small nutshell, but one none the less.

PangingJr · Dec 3, 2004, 06:01 PM

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Clean Install Procedure with Illustrative Screen Captures
Operating System: Windows XP Professional - Upgrade Version
System: Personal Computer
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_pro_i..._-_graphic.htm

Clean Install Procedure with Illustrative Screen Captures
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition - Upgrade Version
System: Personal Computer
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_..._-_graphic.htm

if you still don't understand what they says, you can ask for an explanation here.

MiDKnYtE · Dec 3, 2004, 06:11 PM

ZAP works way faster than killdisk:
http://tinyurl.com/3wxdk

Iridium · Dec 3, 2004, 08:31 PM

I understand how to install a clean operating system.

I forgot to mention a part I guess, that when I get to the part where I start to install the OS, it freezes up because of the "invalid partition". That is why I want to meld the two together, to get around this "invalid partition" and start from scratch... I have tried about 4 different times to see if it will install but it freezes at the same point everytime... I can't even get to the point in the installation cd where it gives me the options to work with partitions.

MiDKnYtE · Dec 3, 2004, 08:45 PM

dude, at least try zap. it works. I've used it dozens of times.

ZAP.TXT - Read me text file for ZAP.COM version 1.xx
================================================== ================

Instructions:

1. Download ZAP.EXE to a temporary directory on your PC.
2. Run the ZAP.EXE program to extract the files.
3. The following two files will be extracted to the
temporary directory.
-- ZAP.COM
-- ZAP.TXT (this file)
4. Copy the files to a bootable diskette.
5. Use the following syntax to run the ZAP program
from a DOS prompt:

Syntax: ZAP [<fdisk#>|?]

Where <fdisk#> = 0 to 7 for Fixed Disk Drive 0
to Fixed Disk Drive 7.
or ? = Display help.

ZAP writes the first 128 logical blocks of the drive with 00h
pattern, starting at Cylinder 0, Head 0, Sector 1.

ZAP will prompt you to make sure you want to ZAP the drive
before doing so, you must answer 'y' or 'Y' and press enter.
Any other responce and ZAP will abort.

ZAP will display any non zero error code returned from the
Fixed Disk function call.

If you do not enter a parameter, ZAP will display help.

Sample Session Screen:
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A:\>ZAP ?
ZAP Version 1.xx mm/dd/yy

Syntax: ZAP [<fdisk#>|?]
<fdisk#> = 0 to 7
? = Diplays this help

Example: ZAP 1
This example will ZAP physical fixed disk drive 1

A:\>ZAP 0
ZAP Version 1.xx mm/dd/yy
All Data on Fixed Disk Will Be Unrecoverable,
Are You Sure You Want to ZAP Physical Fixed Disk Drive 0 (Y/N)? y
ZAP of Fixed Disk Drive 0 Complete.

A:\>_

Iridium · Dec 3, 2004, 09:00 PM

Going to try it now.

Iridium · Dec 3, 2004, 09:14 PM

Still getting the same message, "Invalid Partition Table at 0 on 80h"

MiDKnYtE · Dec 3, 2004, 09:36 PM

are you sure the drive is good? did you run diags on it?

PangingJr · Dec 4, 2004, 05:26 AM

before i can go to What to do in this situation?, i have to know what's being done and understand what's going on first. now i'm not really clear what the problem is..?

so i ask you again,
what is the exact error message that you received when you boot the PC from the XP CD ?

have you tried booting the PC from a bootable floppy disk likes a win98 startup disk?
if you have, what happens, did you get any error message ?

how many partition do you have on the HDD ?
how many HDD connected to the system ?

Dec 3, 2004, 04:19 PM	#1
Iridium DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 402 Rep Power: 0	Using FDISK to format? Not sure if this would be the right forum for this or not, but here goes. I am having issues installing a clean copy of XP home on my PC and I am having an issue atm. I am using KillDisk to wipe the drive, but when I load the program it tells me that I have an incorrect partition on the drive, so I have ignored that and I am currently wiping it clean. My question is, what is the sequence to format the whole drive, wiping the partitions out completely and leaving me with one full disk without any partitions from DOS. It has been awhile since I have had to do this and was hoping someone could help me out. All of the sequences and commands even please, like how I changed from a: drive to c: then either format C:.. or whatever it takes to completely wipe the drive of all partions. I can't remember the sequence. Thanks, not sure if I can even do this..... Did that make sense? Many thanks in advance, Ir __________________ [color=navy]Win XP-Home Sp 2[/color] [color=blue]P4 3.2c @ 3.52 @1.6v w/SLK-900U[/color] [color=royalblue]Abit IC7-G BIOS Rev. 27[/color] [color=deepskyblue]1GB Corsair XMS XL Pro @ 2.5/3/2/6 1:1 @ 220FSB[/color] [color=lightblue]XFX 6600GT @ 585/1175 w/Stock Cooling[/color] [color=lightblue]74gb Raptor/40gb WD Caviar[/color] [color=lightblue]Ultra-X Connect 500w[/color] [color=white]3DMark03[/color],[color=white]PCMark04[/color] Last edited by Iridium; Dec 3, 2004 at 04:27 PM.

Dec 3, 2004, 08:31 PM	Thread Starter #6
Iridium DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 402 Rep Power: 0	I understand how to install a clean operating system. I forgot to mention a part I guess, that when I get to the part where I start to install the OS, it freezes up because of the "invalid partition". That is why I want to meld the two together, to get around this "invalid partition" and start from scratch... I have tried about 4 different times to see if it will install but it freezes at the same point everytime... I can't even get to the point in the installation cd where it gives me the options to work with partitions. __________________ [color=navy]Win XP-Home Sp 2[/color] [color=blue]P4 3.2c @ 3.52 @1.6v w/SLK-900U[/color] [color=royalblue]Abit IC7-G BIOS Rev. 27[/color] [color=deepskyblue]1GB Corsair XMS XL Pro @ 2.5/3/2/6 1:1 @ 220FSB[/color] [color=lightblue]XFX 6600GT @ 585/1175 w/Stock Cooling[/color] [color=lightblue]74gb Raptor/40gb WD Caviar[/color] [color=lightblue]Ultra-X Connect 500w[/color] [color=white]3DMark03[/color],[color=white]PCMark04[/color] Last edited by Iridium; Dec 3, 2004 at 08:42 PM.

Dec 3, 2004, 09:00 PM	Thread Starter #8
Iridium DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 402 Rep Power: 0	Going to try it now. __________________ [color=navy]Win XP-Home Sp 2[/color] [color=blue]P4 3.2c @ 3.52 @1.6v w/SLK-900U[/color] [color=royalblue]Abit IC7-G BIOS Rev. 27[/color] [color=deepskyblue]1GB Corsair XMS XL Pro @ 2.5/3/2/6 1:1 @ 220FSB[/color] [color=lightblue]XFX 6600GT @ 585/1175 w/Stock Cooling[/color] [color=lightblue]74gb Raptor/40gb WD Caviar[/color] [color=lightblue]Ultra-X Connect 500w[/color] [color=white]3DMark03[/color],[color=white]PCMark04[/color]

Dec 3, 2004, 09:14 PM	Thread Starter #9
Iridium DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 402 Rep Power: 0	Still getting the same message, "Invalid Partition Table at 0 on 80h" __________________ [color=navy]Win XP-Home Sp 2[/color] [color=blue]P4 3.2c @ 3.52 @1.6v w/SLK-900U[/color] [color=royalblue]Abit IC7-G BIOS Rev. 27[/color] [color=deepskyblue]1GB Corsair XMS XL Pro @ 2.5/3/2/6 1:1 @ 220FSB[/color] [color=lightblue]XFX 6600GT @ 585/1175 w/Stock Cooling[/color] [color=lightblue]74gb Raptor/40gb WD Caviar[/color] [color=lightblue]Ultra-X Connect 500w[/color] [color=white]3DMark03[/color],[color=white]PCMark04[/color]

Dec 3, 2004, 04:44 PM	#2
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,490 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	If it's a regular WinXP Home disc and not some Dell/Compaq/Crap rescue-CD then you should be able to boot on it and in the beginning of the installation procedure get menues for handling partitions and afterwards formatting the partition you pick for installation. That's a much easier way than meddling with the old FDISK tool.

Dec 3, 2004, 04:47 PM	#3
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	there is no DOS in XP. Boot from the XP cd (press f12 on boot and select your cd drive). select "install xp without repairing" or something to that effect. Delete the current partition, create a new partition, install windows to new partition. It will format under NTFS or FAT, whichever you select. thats it in a nutshell, a very small nutshell, but one none the less.

Dec 3, 2004, 06:01 PM	#4
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	Clean Install Windows XP http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html Clean Install Procedure with Illustrative Screen Captures Operating System: Windows XP Professional - Upgrade Version System: Personal Computer http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_pro_i..._-_graphic.htm Clean Install Procedure with Illustrative Screen Captures Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition - Upgrade Version System: Personal Computer http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_..._-_graphic.htm if you still don't understand what they says, you can ask for an explanation here.

Dec 3, 2004, 06:11 PM	#5
MiDKnYtE Caffeine Machine Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hell is empty. All the devils are here. Posts: 670 Rep Power: 0	ZAP works way faster than killdisk: http://tinyurl.com/3wxdk

Dec 3, 2004, 08:45 PM	#7
MiDKnYtE Caffeine Machine Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hell is empty. All the devils are here. Posts: 670 Rep Power: 0	dude, at least try zap. it works. I've used it dozens of times. ZAP.TXT - Read me text file for ZAP.COM version 1.xx ================================================== ================ Instructions: 1. Download ZAP.EXE to a temporary directory on your PC. 2. Run the ZAP.EXE program to extract the files. 3. The following two files will be extracted to the temporary directory. -- ZAP.COM -- ZAP.TXT (this file) 4. Copy the files to a bootable diskette. 5. Use the following syntax to run the ZAP program from a DOS prompt: Syntax: ZAP [<fdisk#>\|?] Where <fdisk#> = 0 to 7 for Fixed Disk Drive 0 to Fixed Disk Drive 7. or ? = Display help. ZAP writes the first 128 logical blocks of the drive with 00h pattern, starting at Cylinder 0, Head 0, Sector 1. ZAP will prompt you to make sure you want to ZAP the drive before doing so, you must answer 'y' or 'Y' and press enter. Any other responce and ZAP will abort. ZAP will display any non zero error code returned from the Fixed Disk function call. If you do not enter a parameter, ZAP will display help. Sample Session Screen: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A:\>ZAP ? ZAP Version 1.xx mm/dd/yy Syntax: ZAP [<fdisk#>\|?] <fdisk#> = 0 to 7 ? = Diplays this help Example: ZAP 1 This example will ZAP physical fixed disk drive 1 A:\>ZAP 0 ZAP Version 1.xx mm/dd/yy All Data on Fixed Disk Will Be Unrecoverable, Are You Sure You Want to ZAP Physical Fixed Disk Drive 0 (Y/N)? y ZAP of Fixed Disk Drive 0 Complete. A:\>_

Dec 3, 2004, 09:36 PM	#10
MiDKnYtE Caffeine Machine Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hell is empty. All the devils are here. Posts: 670 Rep Power: 0	are you sure the drive is good? did you run diags on it?

Dec 4, 2004, 05:26 AM	#11
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	before i can go to What to do in this situation?, i have to know what's being done and understand what's going on first. now i'm not really clear what the problem is..? so i ask you again, what is the exact error message that you received when you boot the PC from the XP CD ? have you tried booting the PC from a bootable floppy disk likes a win98 startup disk? if you have, what happens, did you get any error message ? how many partition do you have on the HDD ? how many HDD connected to the system ?