Formating Harddrive

[charlieharper]

Hi.

Whenever I try to format my secondary Hard Drive Partition, I get the message Windows Cannot Format this drive. Quit any utilities or other programs that is using this drive"......

How can I see what files/Programs are actually running that my E:/ harddrive are actually using?

I'm currently running Windows XP and I want to get rid of Vista that is on the hard drive I want to format. XP ftw!!

THANKS IN ADVANCE

 

[Decotey]

Boot from winxp cd and format from there

 

[charlieharper]

Boot from winxp cd and format from there

But I dont want to Re-Install Windows XP..

 

[DJNgoma]

-Get EasyBCD, uninstall the Vista bootloader with it.
-Restart your PC (to release the bootloader from the Vista drive/partition).
-Format the drive, being E:, and praise me lol.

 

[N1sh]

But I dont want to Re-Install Windows XP..

You can just format the partition from there and not install windows.

 

[charlieharper]

Ok, So I removed The VISTA bootloader with EasyBCD.

I still cant format the drive.

How do I exactly using the Windows XP CD??

THX

 

[DJNgoma]

Ok, So I removed The VISTA bootloader with EasyBCD.

I still cant format the drive.

How do I exactly using the Windows XP CD??

THX

Try using Unlocker to see if you can remove what application is actually holding onto the drive or you could use command prompt to format it.

To run with command prompt:
-Use the hotkeys/shortcut Win+R
-Type in cmd into the open window
-type the following

C:\>format (drive letter):

i.e.

C:\>format e:

Just concentrate on what is typed after C:\>.

 

[bekdik]

Check that you aren't using the drive for swap space.