Problems formatting drive using Windows disk?

[sparker11]

When I try to format the disk during Win2K install I get "Setup unable to format partition - the disk may be damamged".

I've been using this drive FINE for a few years. When I try formatting the drive using my dos disk (FAT32) everything goes through fine. But whenever I try to format the drive using Win2K disks (FAT32 or NTFS) it fails and gives me an error.

Anyone have this problem? Any ideas? I'd like to keep it w/NTFS if possible.

Thanks.

[Nemesys]

It cannot be formatted with the FAT/FAT32 command it it's an NTFS partition. The best way to overcome this is to let the Windows partition and format the drive from the prompt during the Windoes 2000 installation. You will be given the opportunity to select NTFS then.

[sparker11]

Sorry, maybe my post was a little confusing. I've deleted the partition and redid it using FAT32 (dos disk) .. but everytime i try to reformat the drive using Win2K disk I get an error.

[Nemesys]

Have you tried deleting the partition using Windows 2000 and let the windows 2000 installation partition the drive?

[sparker11]

yea .. ran scandisk and everything is OK too .. very strange. a friend said he had the same problem and just did a low level format in fat32 and did a basic insall (not using disks) and things worked.

very strange, curious if anyone had any ideas!

Thanks for the responses.

[addicted375]

Use the utility for you brand of hard drive if you do not have one you should be able to get it off the net. Go into the test program and use the utility that writes zeros to thdrive and it will clear everthing off of the hard drive.like the day you bought it. Once that is done put in the CD and reboot to start the install.

[sparker11]

Hey thanks for the ideas! I ended up formatting the drive using DOS then did a CONVERT to NTFS and everything worked fine.

All disk scans etc worked fine. Interesting problem ... once again thanks.

[Nemesys]

Great!!
Hope he enjoys it!!