Format I don't remember my user password. Running on XP. I need to format the hard drive. Tried with a bootable Xp Cd. it does not respond

Note: The Microsoft Windows XP CD is a bootable CD and in many cases you should not need a bootable floppy diskette. Booting from the Windows XP CD will allow you to not only install/re-install Windows XP but will also allow you to troubleshoot it.

Create MS-DOS bootable diskette

When formatting a floppy diskette, users have the option of creating a MS-DOS startup disk, follow the below steps to do this.

1. Place diskette in the computer.

2. Open My Computer, right-click the A: drive and click Format.

3. In the Format window, check Create an MS-DOS startup disk.

4. Click Start

Create Windows XP Setup diskettes

Microsoft is beginning to phase out bootable floppy diskettes in favor of bootable CD discs and has not included a method of easily creating a bootable floppy diskette in Windows XP or from the CD. However, Microsoft has downloads available for users who still need to create bootable diskettes to install (not upgrade) Windows XP. These downloads can be found through KB310994.

hope this helps

First you must boot from a CD or DVD or from a floppy disk and not from the hard drive.

Creating a Windows XP boot disk

Note: The Microsoft Windows XP CD is a bootable CD and in many cases you should not need a bootable floppy diskette. Booting from the Windows XP CD will allow you to not only install/re-install Windows XP but will also allow you to troubleshoot it.

Create MS-DOS bootable diskette

When formatting a floppy diskette, users have the option of creating a MS-DOS startup disk, follow the below steps to do this.

1. Place diskette in the computer.
   
2. Open My Computer, right-click the A: drive and click Format.
   
3. In the Format window, check Create an MS-DOS startup disk.
   
4. Click Start
   

How to boot from Microsoft Windows XP CD.
1. Restart the computer while it is rebooting keep on tapping on F12
2. In the boot menu option select on CD/DVD Rom the press Enter
3. Computer will restart and you will be prompted to " Boot from CD/DVD press Any key" just press any key on your keyboard. Just the let the Windows Setup files be loaded.
4. Press "R" when you the screen below





5. Press 1 then Enter
6. In the command prompt type format c:/q then press Enter

Note: This will format the drive c: or wipe out the information in the hard drive

hi

Boot from your XP install CD and select the option to format the C:
drive. If you don't have an install CD, use the "System Restore" CD or
DVD that came with your system. These restore your system to factory
settings. There're still other ways to format your C: drive, but
without either an install CD or restore one, you'll end up with an
unusable system after formatting the C: drive.
If you use the XP install CD, you'll need to be SURE you have all the
drivers for things like your DVD/CD drive, NIC, video, audio, modem, etc.

Use a bootable cd. do the format from that menu. alternatively, use third party bootable softwares to format the hdd.

You will and external CD-ROM or DVD ROM in order to format the Netbook.You can used MS-DOS to format the Hard drive.

Yopu can download the bootable MS-DOS using the link below

http://www.ulink.net/crossroads/computers/sli/boot622.exe

or you can use any Windows XP Bootable CD to format the hard drive too.

you need to copy an operating system installer to your pen drive...

like for example you want xp or xp sp2, xp sp3, vista, r window 7..

you need it's installer cd and copy it to your pen drive...

if you want you can try searching for sites that you can download an installer..then save it to your pen drive...make sure you will copy the right application with bootable exe...so that you can format it your boot menu..

try this site it looks like reliable.. but i never tried downloading xp installer before that's why i don't know the circumstances that may happen...

i know it is about 2G + in size that's why i'm advicing you to buy a new one or if you have one just copy it to your pen drive through other computer with cd drive..

i hope i've helped you on this matter..

Hello sparkling202,

• Goto http://www.bootdisk.com/
• Select Windows XP Fresh Install Bootdisk And Bootable CD
(You should be able to format the hd from the bootable cd)

*As a reminder, The format command will ERASE ALL YOUR DATA on the hard drive !

If this solution is helpful please click a thumbs-up rating below.

Have a great day,
martyshaw152

You need to format it before operating system loads . You have to insert bootable XP cd as you power up your PC.

If you are Windows XP bootable CD with u,

first u restart ur computer and change the boot priority in the BIOS setup . Then insert the bootable cd and restart computer.

When some message comes in the screen, regarding bootable cd, press any key for installation,

It will take some time to copy installation files, then configure computer hard disk.

Then u have to agree the continuation of installation by pressing F8.
It will ask u either to repair or install Windows
press appropriate keys for that.
It will show the disk partitions and lets u with options of creating ,deleting paritions .
if u want a partition, then select any large partition and press C and type the amount of memory(in MegaBytes) u want for the partition
After finishing creating partitions,
select any partition and press enter for Windows installation in that partition. and select "format and install" option . It will format that partition and restarts . there is nothing to do more .
After restarting , it takes about 40min to install(times inversly proportional to the processor configuration), it asks for the serial /product key fo ur windows bootable cd, and some general settings about time,time zone,username,passwords etc.
After that , Windows would get completely installed.
Then insert ur motherboard CD for installing driver for (audio,graphics,LAN etc)

Then ur system is ready with Windows.
Ask me if u have any difficulty while installing...

yashrajsen

You do not not need your motherboard CD to preform a format on your drive. Any windows CD. Win XP home, XP Pro, Win 2000 will format your hard drive. You can also use the hard drive's Mfg's utility disks & creat a bootable floppy disk or creat a bootable CDROM disk that will not only allow you to format the hard drive but also fun testing on the drive. You can even pick your cluster size & FAT file. Write down the name of your drive & model no#. Go to the Mfg's web site & download the utility software. Chances are Windows will have most of your boards drivers in it's data base. All you'll need to do is download from Gigabyte your missing drivers. You'll need you complete model no# & version no# if you can find it.