Solved Can't format non-system partition?

[johntkucz]

hey mates,

I have a downloads partition D: drive. it's empty. there's no system stuff on it. I made that partition so could reformat it regularly (could hdd hygiene ).


Anyways, it's not letting me reformat it. Saying some other app is using it. i have closed all apps though.

I'd prefer to NOT have to boot up on system disks to resolve this because well that's a hassle and I made the paritition in the first place so could just regularly do a quick reformat easily.

thanks.

 

[zigzag3143]

hey mates,

I have a downloads partition D: drive. it's empty. there's no system stuff on it. I made that partition so could reformat it regularly (could hdd hygiene ).


Anyways, it's not letting me reformat it. Saying some other app is using it. i have closed all apps though.

I'd prefer to NOT have to boot up on system disks to resolve this because well that's a hassle and I made the paritition in the first place so could just regularly do a quick reformat easily.

thanks.

You try reformatting in safe mode (F8)?

Might be open in explorer, or your malware might monitoring it etc.

If those fail any good 3rd party partitioning sware (trials are free) like Parigon disk suite will do it in a heart beat.

 

[JimLewandowski]

You mean from a CMD prompt:

D: (to get into your D partition)

and then:

DIR /AH

shows NO hidden files/directories



and

DIR

shows absolutely nothing?


I wonder if System Volume Information is still on there.

 

[johntkucz]

Wow I can think of few things this frustrating.

Was about to defenestrate the dell laptop.

I booted off Win 7 cd... The ability to format was GREYED out.

I booted off a version of GParted boot cd. The cd kept clicking and stalled.:devil::devil::devil:

frickin' hell!!

More info:
The 20gb drive shows 4gb are used but it's empty. Could that be hidden malware? Reveal hidden files solves nothing.

Either way I need to format it and only way seems some formatting app.

 

[johntkucz]

You mean from a CMD prompt:

D: (to get into your D partition)

and then:

DIR /AH

shows NO hidden files/directories



and

DIR

shows absolutely nothing?


I wonder if System Volume Information is still on there.

one sec will respond and check that.

 

[johntkucz]

That results in

DIR Recycle.bin
~4gb pagefile.sys
DIR System Volume Information

1 File
2 Dirs

 

[theog]

Can you post a screen shot of Disk management?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Screenshot tools.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...ed-method-uploading-posting-screen-shots.html
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/148532-how-use-snipping-tool-vista.html
Snipping Tool - Windows 7 features - Microsoft Windows
Use Snipping Tool to capture screen shots
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9717-screenshot-paint.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/51160-screenshot-upload-using-mwsnap.html
fscapture free download

Use Snipping Tool to capture screen shots

 

[johntkucz]

****ing Hell.

Using format D: with Admin privs on cmd requests to unmount. "y" and then it says
Cannot lock the drive. The volume is still in use.

Beginning to think this is a hidden trojan/virus/malware.

all the more reason to format D: asap bloody hell I am downloading a ubuntu live cd to boot off that and use gparted which often works.

 

[theog]

Can you post a screen shot of Disk management?

 

[johntkucz]

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1265478/problem_d_drive_noformat.JPG

i am familiar with and use snippet a lot.

 

[johntkucz]

hey you're a brit! that's a plus!

 

[johntkucz]

just to recap...

can't format it booting off win 7 system disk
gparted boot didn't work
cmd with admin privs format didn't work.

****ing hell.

 

[johntkucz]

hey you're a brit; that's a plus!

no format booting off win cd
ubuntu didn't work gparted
admin privs with cmd didn't work

 

[theog]

Turn off page file for D:, & reboot.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/132201-virtual-memory-paging-file-change.html

 

[johntkucz]

I changed those prefs and will reboot. it seems this will work. will post update. thanks! what's pagefile. sys. where the virtual memory is stored? i relocated to a partition that i don't reformat regularly (or at all).

 

[johntkucz]

BRILLIANT!!!!!!!1111

Thanks heaps Theog.

pagefile.sys (at least it seems to me, you would know for certain) is virtual memory. i relocated that to my apps partition and set it at 4gb (the amount of ram this laptop has).


the 20gb partition is healthy and has been partitioned.

excellent sherlocke deducing diagnosing solving. tHanks111!!!

 

[johntkucz]

Thanks

Thanks again, theog. You made the day and saved me from smashing the laptop!!

Also, i couldn't help peeking at your desktop in teh screenshot. I liked that no games were visible. all those apps looked professional. i am in process of building assembling my own rig and and want to make sure I only have (mainly have) work apps and will prob make two users (one for games and recreational) and the main for work apps (writing/authoring, webdev, film editting stuff/work).

anyways. thanks.

 

[theog]

You are welcome.