If you are not that lucky to have the Partition Magic rescue disks................
Using the Windows XP setup, there is no need to format the partition with an command like FORMAT C: in MS-DOS before you setup Windows XP. The formatting can be done during the Windows XP setup. You will be asked to format the primary partition in NTFS or FAT32. You can choose between a quick format and a complete format.
If you have just created the partitions in MS-DOS, reboot your computer before you start formatting a partition.
It is NOT possible to format NTFS partitions from a MS-DOS boot disk. You don't need to: format the partition in Windows XP, or at Windows setup (boot from the Windows XP CD-ROM)!
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IMPORTANT NOTE: If you decide to quick format the old primary boot partition at Windows XP setup (without repartitioning your hard disk) you will probably be surprised to find old files on your new Windows XP setup (Documents and Settings folder). To prevent this misery, delete your old partition and create new partitions!
Formatting Logical Disks (partitions within the extended partition) is easy. Right click the partition using the Windows Explorer or Disk Manager as shown below (Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Disk Management) and choose format. You will be asked what file system (FAT32 or NTFS) to format, the preferred label and the option to quick format the disk. If there is no reason to use FAT32, choose the NTFS file system. If you forgot to enter the label, you can change it in the Windows Explorer.
The command FORMAT is an old MS-DOS command, which is only used for partitions with the FAT/FAT32 file system. You won't be able to format a NTFS primary partition with the command FORMAT C: after you booted from a MS-DOS boot disk! If you prefer the MS-DOS commands for your FAT32 partitions (good old times....), here are the useful commands:
DIR C: (a summary of the partition files
and folders on partition C:)
FORMAT C: \Q (a quick format of your C: partition)
LABEL C: WINDOWS (labeling the C: partition with WINDOWS)
FDISK (partitioning your hard disk)
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