im trying to format my 150gb hard drive but it wont let me, whats the deal?

Question

Everytime I try to format it a window comes up saying that windows cannot format the drive, quit any disk utilities that are useing the drive and make sure that no window is displaying the contents of the drive, then try again, I did that and it still won't let me, and it also won't let me slect fat32, it will only do it under ntfs. The hard drive is corrupted so I have to do this, my laptop will start formatting but I left it for about 3 hours and the status bar never moved, help!

Answer 1

there is an xp installation disk that does it once you boot up, there you are able to create partitions and format exiting ones,this could desire to be the final way guy simply by fact by using vista you wont be waiting to format it. or your vista wouldve been put in over xp, i.e. your vista wouldnt have been an outright installation.

Answer 2

It sounds like there might be some sort of issue with the drive. Try running a checkdisk first. Right click on the drive and select properties. From there click on Tools and then select Check Now on error checking. Select both options and start.



That may fix it, but if there's an issue with bad blocks being on the disk, then it will not fix those -- the drive will need to be replaced. After the chkdsk finishes, try another format and see if that works.

Answer 3

try this http://partedmagic.com/

Answer 4

You cant format the drive through windows as you are on the drive..you have to go to bios and set your first boot drive to the CD rom...then put the windows disc in the cd and boot..it will see the the "windows" on the disc and you can install a complete version of windows there. You can also set partitions and fat32 or ntfs...but you better remove all your wanted data before you start this or you will lose it!

Answer 5

You need to partition the drive before you try to format it. You can't format it FAT32 because your partition is too large.



Type 'diskmgmt.msc' into your 'Run' bar. Remove any drive letter associated with any partitions on that drive. Remove all partitions. Create partition(s) sized appropriately for the file system you want to use. Format the newly-created partition(s) and then, if desired, assign them drive letters.

Answer 6

let me guess - you try to format your main hard disk of your laptop while in the windows right? of course it won't let you do that because the whole system is currently using that hard drive. the only way to format a main partition/hard disk is by inserting the windows disk (any windows - xp, vista, 7) and choosing the format option. of course then you have to reinstall your windows. happy trying my friend. :-)

Answer 7

Boot your computer from the Windows disk and format it from there.