I
Ignorant but Grateful
I've tried searches (as you'll see). Forgive me if I've missed the answer
that will work for me.
I want to format my C: drive (120GB hard disk).
I tried the Windows XP Pro Computer Management Facility. For my C:, both
"partition" and "format" are grayed out...even though I AM logged in as
administrator. At this point, the disk isn't partitioned - or, I suppose
it's one, big partition.
I tried the DOS prompt (I'm old-school), but of course it didn't work
because a program was running. (Windows)
I tried booting up from the CD-ROM, both by interrupting the boot-up with an
F12 and by redirecting the BIOS (F2) to boot directly from CD-ROM. The
boot-up process fails. ("F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup") This is an
original, bought-paid-for and-registered CD-ROM.
I downloaded the 6-floppy version of the start-up disk and, again,
interrupting the boot-up process (F12) or redirectinhg the BIOS (F2), have
been unable to successfully boot up. ("no boot device available Strike F1 to
retry F2 for setup")
Both the floppy drive and the CD-ROM drive function fine for other purposes.
The computer works fine too, though the hard disk has gotten so 'dirty' that
even Zone Alarm + AdAware + Registry cleaner + Defrag + DiskCleanup + + +
won't get the computer (an old Dell Dimension) running even half-fast.
Thanks sincerely for any assistance.
that will work for me.
I want to format my C: drive (120GB hard disk).
I tried the Windows XP Pro Computer Management Facility. For my C:, both
"partition" and "format" are grayed out...even though I AM logged in as
administrator. At this point, the disk isn't partitioned - or, I suppose
it's one, big partition.
I tried the DOS prompt (I'm old-school), but of course it didn't work
because a program was running. (Windows)
I tried booting up from the CD-ROM, both by interrupting the boot-up with an
F12 and by redirecting the BIOS (F2) to boot directly from CD-ROM. The
boot-up process fails. ("F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup") This is an
original, bought-paid-for and-registered CD-ROM.
I downloaded the 6-floppy version of the start-up disk and, again,
interrupting the boot-up process (F12) or redirectinhg the BIOS (F2), have
been unable to successfully boot up. ("no boot device available Strike F1 to
retry F2 for setup")
Both the floppy drive and the CD-ROM drive function fine for other purposes.
The computer works fine too, though the hard disk has gotten so 'dirty' that
even Zone Alarm + AdAware + Registry cleaner + Defrag + DiskCleanup + + +
won't get the computer (an old Dell Dimension) running even half-fast.
Thanks sincerely for any assistance.