Reformatting / Cannot Lock The Drive
Jun 15, 2005
I'm trying to reformat an XP SP1 computer, with just one hard drive, a CDburner and a floppy that doesn't work. Whenver I try format c: (from the C drive) I get this: Quote: Format cannot run because the volume is in use by another process.Format may run if this volume is dismounted first ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID.Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? (Y/N) y Cannot lock the drive. The volume is still in use.
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Feb 11, 2007
I installed Windows XP SP2 Professional on it like a week ago. But instead of erasing everything on it, the computer now gives me a choice between booting with Windows XP, Windows 2000 which I installed a while ago, and just Windows which is ME and has been there for a long time. Now I just wanna format the hd, get rid of everything, and start fresh with just Windows XP.
So I tried going to Command Prompt and typing "Format C:". It gave me the whole this is NTFS, type volume label and its gonna delete all data are you sure, I did all that. Then, it said " Format cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Format may run if this volume is dismounted first. ALL OPEN HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID. Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? <Y/N>. I said yes. Then it says " Cannot lock the drive. The volume is still in use.
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Apr 8, 2007
I have a computer that has a normal C drive with windows XP installed. I added a second maxtor drive for my data drive. It seems when I add my second drive to my windows xp system it causes XP to lock up with a big blue screen after a certain period of time. It usually is when I have intense drive activity when I am installing programs such as visual studio or some thing like that. Both drives are in the Windows XP NSPF format so I don't think that is the problem.I get tired of reinstalling Win XP everytime this occures.
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Dec 22, 2004
When I started my pc today, the fonts all seem to be missing from the machine - so for example, i have symbols instead of letters on the start menu etc.
I assume I need to reinstall xp, but can't for 2 reasons:1. I cannot format the disk- I get an error in cmd saying format cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Format may run if this volume is dismounted first. Problem is, when i say yes to the dismount, I get "cannot lock the drive, volume is still in use".2. I cannot reinstall from the cd - I get a message saying the version of xp on the machine is newer than the one i am trying to install - so cannot install.
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Jul 4, 2005
take me through reformatting my hardrive
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Oct 17, 2009
I have decided to reformat my hard drive. I've transferred my files to my backup disk. I need very specific instruction on this process. I could use details regarding process itself and any precautions or hints. I am running Windows XP Professional X64.
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Jan 18, 2005
I have a gateway amd athlon 1.10 Ghz running microsoft windows server 2003 datacenter edition. The os was installed by my former roommate, without my permission, and I believe it may not be a legal copy. I've been trying to reformat the hard drive and install a copy of Windows XP Professional, which is legal, but it tells me wrong dos version whenever I try to do this. My former roommate also partitioned the drive, also without my permission. I would like to remove the partition as well, but don't really know how.
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Sep 16, 2005
basically something happened to my computer so i want to reinstall windows xp again. usually it starts up and then when it should normally go to the login screen, it shows a blank black screen. so i tried to boot it from the windows xp cd, and yeah it says 'press any key to boot from cd', or something like that. so i do it and i know after it boots from the cd i can choose to reformat the hard drive...but it freezes every time i press the key to make it reboot from the cd. i haven't seen any online tutorials that go over this..
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Jan 6, 2005
Ok, I am just about to get up enough enough nerve to reformat my hard drive and have a couple of questions (for now).After reformtting and before beginning the install of XP Pro, do I need to disconnect periphials (printer, scanner, etc)?Do I stay connected to the internet via cable modem and router or should those be disconnected?I have 2 computers networked. Will resetablishing the network happen automatically or will windows walk me through it, or
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Jul 8, 2005
Why should a computer reset sometimes when the Num Lock or Caps Lock key is pressed? I have tried turning Num Lock off in the Bios to see if that would help. But same thing happens The system is as follows Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition BIOS Version DateAmerican Megatrends Inc. 07.00T, 02/04/2001 Motherboard MSI745 Ultra Processor AMD Athlon 1200 (BUT SHOWS UP AS 900) Keyboard DescriptionStandard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard.
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Jan 3, 2008
I'm trying to lock drive C but an error message comes up saying that the volume is in use.I don't understand MS-DOS at all.
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Dec 30, 2007
I got a usb flash drive and plugged it in for the first time today. My computer automatically named it (F and (G - it had two partitions apparently. Anyway, I also have a Buffalo external hard drive that was always (F before. I figured my computer just assigned the usb flash drive (F and (G temporarily because the external hard drive wasn't turned on. So when I did plug it in, it was named (H. However, when I disconnected both drives, and re-plugged the external hd, it was still (H. Also, I noticed that all my folder settings in the external hd were reset.
I tried uninstalling the driver for the usb flash drive and the external hd remained (H.
Is there anyway to reverse this without reformatting or otherwise damaging my files inside the external hard drive
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Jan 20, 2005
I have terrible errors in my system. I run Windows XP. It is to the point that my internet is very very slow as are my programs I run. I have tried everything suggested. Microsoft now suggested that I do a full reformat, reinstall & clean of my hard drive. (Start all over from scratch).Can someone lead me into the right direction that explains step by step how I do this? I have backups of most all my programs and everything I think I will need.
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Jun 13, 2006
we've got a bit of a problem. Our computer came with Windows XP Home Edition already installed by Dell. Just recently my internet stopped working, and my mom changed the administrator password and made the main account non-administrator. Problem? SHE FORGOT THE PASSWORD!So, now, we can't install/uninstall anything and we need to know how to completely reformat our hard disk and uninstall windows so that we can start over fresh. We plan to reinstall Windows with a complete Windows XP Home Edition CD that we purchased separately. We also have another CD that came with the computer, but we're not sure if it is a complete Windows XP Home Edition installation CD. *NOTE* My mom is working with me on this, and she's more computer savvy than me. She's going to be the one reading the instructions. I just type faster
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Dec 7, 2006
I tried to do a search but I keep getting a blank screen for some reason.I need to reformat my hard drive but the original recovery CD I got from Toshiba is long gone. I don't really have time to wait for another to come in the mail, as I have work to finish within the next day or so. Is there a way to download the necessary drivers and whatnot from Microsoft and burn my own recovery CD to use while reformatting?
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Dec 28, 2007
ok I was thinking about reformatting. If I just took out my old hard drive and put a new one in, then I could just install a fresh version of windows? Also how would I do like 1 part of it for the os, the other part for my files. This wasy i can just reformat the windows part when i wanna do it again.
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Jun 5, 2008
I tried to format my hard drive by right clicking the c: drive then clicking format. At the end, it says "Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs that are using this drive, and make sure that no windows is displaying contents of the drive. Then try formatting again.". This happens all the time.
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Nov 14, 2005
I want to reformat the hard drive on a Toshiba satellite laptop that has Intel celeron processor and Window XP home OS. Could somebody please guide me through the process step by step? I would also really appreciate it if someone could tell me what all I would need before I start the reformatting process.
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Aug 14, 2005
as some of you may or may not know.. i have had some ( ok ok alot ) of problems with my computer since the hydro kept flickering on and off a few weeks ago.. well my saga continues.. I decided to say screw it and reformat. well it wont reformat properly it wont totally wipe the c drive.. it will delete and or reformat the d drive partition.. but when i come back c drive still has all the program files etc.. i have tried to do it through system restore and type in reformat c: /fsintfs and that wont wipe it either.
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Sep 15, 2009
I have two hard drives(40 GB & 160GB both internal) installed in my system. Earlier I had installed windows XP on the first hard drive (40GB) and was using second hard drive as additional storage. I had partitioned my second hard drive into 5 partitions P, Q, R, S, T. Recently I reformatted my first hard drive and reinstalled windows XP. However this has also affected my second hard drive. Now Windows shows only two drives C: (my first hard drive) and D: (second hard drive) as only one partition each. Moreover it is not showing any data on the second hard drive. I want to get back my parition info and data on the second hard drive. I thought that formatting my first drive will not affect second drive and therefore didn't take back up of the second drive. What shall I do to get back my data and partition info.
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Jun 14, 2005
I'm running XP with a downloaded, update SP2. I got a virus around Christmas and now want to reformat the drive and XP won't let me.It says I cannot dismount the drive to start the process.Something is using it?I just want to learn from my mistakes and start over. Also can I install XP from the discs from my other machine to this one? I do not have a copy of the original OS disc.
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Jun 26, 2005
While installing Windows XP, the power went out after about 40% of it had been installed. Now, when I turn on the computer, I get a message that says, "NTLDR is missing. press CTRL+ALT+DEL to reboot." Well, this becomes a never-ending cycle. So, I inserted the Windows XP cd in the cd-rom drive and booted the computer up. I tried re-installing XP and repairing XP. Neither works. So, what I would like to do is completely wipe out my hard drive (nothing I want to save) and start all over.
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Jun 14, 2005
I had a duel boot system running Windows 2000 and linux, I decided to get rid of linux for a while but stupid me just went in to fdisk and deleted the linux partition. Now my 80 gig hard drive only shows as 40 and I can't think of anyway to get it back without reformatting the entire hard drive
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Jul 27, 2008
when this problem occurs, when you move the mouse around, like in circles, it stops every now and then for a millisecond.then, when you play music or video, it also skips every now and then.i never had this problem before. it started 2 months ago and i have to restart my computer everytime it happens.i guessed that this is a memory problem because it happens when....azureus (torrent downloader) finishes a file and goes to seeding it i'm running azureus, yahoo messenger, i have ragnarok game open (vending) all at the same time#2 + watching videos see, this happens randomly. sometimes, i can open azureus, yahoo messenger, ragnarok and still watch a video with no problems.i don't want to resort to reformatting my drive yet so i
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Mar 25, 2006
Is there a way to partition the primary disk on a computer without reformatting?A computer that I inherited (HP Pavillion) has a 120Gb hard drive partitioned into two sections C drive 104Gb NTFS primary D drive 7Gb FAT32 recovery I would like to split the primary into two sections, if possible without reformatting
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Jan 21, 2008
I have a laptop that I just got my hands on, it's a Dell Inspiron 8200, has windows XP Pro (service pack 2) on it. I need to reformat it, however, the cd drive doesnt really work anymore (this is the second cd drive its had). I would rather not spend money on a cd drive or anything, and was wondering if there was anyway to use a boot disk to format it, then if there was any way to install network drivers and use a network to install windows. That at least is my present theory of how to go about this, but I'm not sure if it's even possible, and I'm searching around online right now.
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Oct 19, 2007
having my laptop returned from service I found my Bios messed with where when I would start my computer but Bios wouldn't find my hard drive or an OS I found that my system was set to RAID instead of ATA. After resetting it back to ATA it boots up fine. However I wanted to reformat and start clean.I placed my XP disk in, reset my BIOS to read my optical drive first and no problems.However every time I get to partition drive all I see is "Unknown Device" If I press any key I get a blue screen of death. Most times it's the 0X0000008E.
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Feb 24, 2010
I'm trying to reformat an Acer Laptop 120GB hard drive that had problems before with VISTA so I'm using my copy of Win XP Pro, (I own the Volume disk, and have used it several times with no problems). When I try and do a reformat it hangs at 80%.I've used MEMtest86, no erorrs, I've tried Ultimate bootCD, no probs, I've tried SystemRescueCD, no help. I ran CHKDSK from a DOS prompt no problems. I ws going to replace the MBR but it says that I might not be able to access my drive if it doesn't work...is that true ?Right now I'm trying a MS-DOS FORMAT from a command prompt and its taking forever. After 20 minutes its only at 1%.
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Jun 16, 2005
I recently tried to reinstall windows xp, but the installation was interrupted and left me with a partially installed windows on my hard drive. Now, whenever I try to install again, it gives me the error: NTLDR is missing. I made a msdos boot disc to reformat my drive such that I can try installing windows again. However, I have two hard drive (one for windows and programs and one for storage) and I don't know which one is which letter. How can I find this information, so that I don't accidentally wipe my storage drive?
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Apr 30, 2007
I am sure that everyone knows that you can lock your account in XP, blah, blah.But if I am doing something important, I don't want other administrators to be able to log me off!Is there a registry key/local poicy/other solution so that only I can unlock my account when I lock it?
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May 26, 2005
I'm trying to reformat my mother in laws pc from winxp pro to win xp home.
when going in to command prompt it keeps telling me cannot lock drive, is there another way to format?
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