can't format, partition old hard drive

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsnt.misc (More info?)

Ann W wrote:
>
> I finally got one computer to work ok, but now I'm running into a similar problem with the 2nd one, and thought I had it figured out. I can't use the NT setup disks because the computer seemingly will not boot from the setup disk or the Setup CD, even though set to do so in the BIOS. It will boot right into NT 4.0 Workstation. Then I cannot partition or format the partition containing the OS. Actually the 8 gig hard drive is one partition formatted as NTFS. I would really like to avoid removing that hard disk and putting it as a secondary in another NT 4.0 computer. I don't think I can use fdisk on this. If anyone can give me a better way, please do!
>
> Ann

Actually, you can use fdisk, as long as it's a primary partition. Get a
boot disk from DOS 6.x or Win 95OSR2 or higher, and you can nuke that
partition.

Failing that, delpart.exe can nuke any MS partition. It's available for
download from the MS web site.

You can get DOS and/or Windows boot disks from www.bootdisk.com

hth
--
Ricardo M. Urbano
Microsoft Windows 2000/NT MVP

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsnt.misc (More info?)

Thank you so much for the advice. I did download a Windows 98SE boot disk, but this computer still boots into NT 4.0. I believe it is only booting from the hard disk. This hard disk is with a different processor. I'm thinking I should have formatted it (or deleted its partition) before I moved it. I have downloaded delpart but I don't think I can use it unless I can avoid booting into the NT 4.0. Please let me know if you have additional information.

Ann

"Ricardo M. Urbano - W2K/NT4 MVP" wrote:

> Ann W wrote:
> >
> > I finally got one computer to work ok, but now I'm running into a similar problem with the 2nd one, and thought I had it figured out. I can't use the NT setup disks because the computer seemingly will not boot from the setup disk or the Setup CD, even though set to do so in the BIOS. It will boot right into NT 4.0 Workstation. Then I cannot partition or format the partition containing the OS. Actually the 8 gig hard drive is one partition formatted as NTFS. I would really like to avoid removing that hard disk and putting it as a secondary in another NT 4.0 computer. I don't think I can use fdisk on this. If anyone can give me a better way, please do!
> >
> > Ann
>
> Actually, you can use fdisk, as long as it's a primary partition. Get a
> boot disk from DOS 6.x or Win 95OSR2 or higher, and you can nuke that
> partition.
>
> Failing that, delpart.exe can nuke any MS partition. It's available for
> download from the MS web site.
>
> You can get DOS and/or Windows boot disks from www.bootdisk.com
>
> hth
> --
> Ricardo M. Urbano
> Microsoft Windows 2000/NT MVP
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsnt.misc (More info?)

Here's what I did to try to delete the partition today. It's the process that worked on the first computer. I put the problem hard drive in another computer with an older processor. Then I used the setup disks and they seemed to work. I got to the place to delete the partition and went through those steps and then quit. I put the drive back into the newer equipment and tried to use the Setup disks but instead, it booted into NT 4.0 again. I'm wondering if I should have formatted the drive as well as deleting the partition? I am really frustrated after all that work and I'm still in the same predicament. What can I do???? (I've tried delpart, etc., but when the computer boots into NT, nothing seems to work--can't delete the partition containing the OS)

Ann

"Ricardo M. Urbano - W2K/NT4 MVP" wrote:

> Ann W wrote:
> >
> > I finally got one computer to work ok, but now I'm running into a similar problem with the 2nd one, and thought I had it figured out. I can't use the NT setup disks because the computer seemingly will not boot from the setup disk or the Setup CD, even though set to do so in the BIOS. It will boot right into NT 4.0 Workstation. Then I cannot partition or format the partition containing the OS. Actually the 8 gig hard drive is one partition formatted as NTFS. I would really like to avoid removing that hard disk and putting it as a secondary in another NT 4.0 computer. I don't think I can use fdisk on this. If anyone can give me a better way, please do!
> >
> > Ann
>
> Actually, you can use fdisk, as long as it's a primary partition. Get a
> boot disk from DOS 6.x or Win 95OSR2 or higher, and you can nuke that
> partition.
>
> Failing that, delpart.exe can nuke any MS partition. It's available for
> download from the MS web site.
>
> You can get DOS and/or Windows boot disks from www.bootdisk.com
>
> hth
> --
> Ricardo M. Urbano
> Microsoft Windows 2000/NT MVP
>