fdisk / format w/o a floppy..

[Awchoo]

This is going to be a major newb Q.

With floppy drives no longer being a 'needed' component in today's systems, Im wondering how do you fdisk / format a HD on a new rig? I plan on installing a floppy in my new sys but I'm just sorta curious to this Q. only thing I can think of is storing system files onto a USB key...but are those bootable?

 

[RichPLS]

With a bootable CD and the format utility.
If it is the C boot drive, the XP install disk will do it on install automatically if not already created, or you can opt to if already formated and you wish to break it and reformat it.

 

[dmroeder]

Well, if you are installing Windows XP then you can format it during the installation. If you are adding a HD to a system then you can just format it in Window with the disk manager.

 

[Awchoo]

Thanks.
Will the xp cd also be able to set the partitions (fdisk?)

 

[RichPLS]

Yes on C drive, you can do the rest in windoze.

But drives are handled better in XP using entire disk as single partition, at least imo.
I have a pair of 74gig Raptors and a pair of 250GB WD SE16's

 

[Awchoo]

thnx for the replies Rich.