Solved unable to format local disk C

[MRINAL KANT]

when i used to format my PC's local disk C then it always shows the message that windows is unable to complete the format .......
i have nothing installed or saved any thing in this drive not even a 1kb file ....
but it always shows 2.2 GB used space .
please tell what to do ...

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Are you trying to format it from within Windows??? You can't do that - you need to do that when performing a clean installation or using 3rd party partioning tools, pre-Windows boot. That drive seems to have part of your Windows installation on it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52291-partition-hard-drive-windows-7-install.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html

Regards,
Golden

 

[MRINAL KANT]

why i can't format it within windows ?

 

[MRINAL KANT]

I have tried many other tools but nothing happens the problem continued

 

[gregrocker]

You cannot format the partition which is currently running Windows 7. How would it run to do this? :huh:

Are you planning to reinstall the OS? If so boot the Win7 installer, choose Custom Install, then use the Drive Options to format C before choosing it to reinstall. You can also delete any other partitions you don't want, even C, to repartition as desired.

If you'd post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Mgmt drive map and listings, using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu, we can advise you how to do most anything you want to do with your partitions.

 

[MRINAL KANT]

You cannot format the partition which is currently running Windows 7. How would it run to do this? :huh:

Are you planning to reinstall the OS? If so boot the Win7 installer, choose Custom Install, then use the Drive Options to format C before choosing it to reinstall. You can also delete any other partitions you don't want, even C, to repartition as desired.

If you'd post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Mgmt drive map and listings, using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu, we can advise you how to do most anything you want to do with your partitions.

My windows 7 is installed in local disk D not in C ...
:huh:

 

[Sir George]

I have tried many other tools but nothing happens the problem continued

Have you tried Partition Wizard as suggested by Golden in post #2 in this thread?

HTH

 

[MRINAL KANT]

I have tried many other tools but nothing happens the problem continued

Have you tried Partition Wizard as suggested by Golden in post #2 in this thread?

HTH

YES , i have tried but nothing happens it remains same ...
the problem continued.....

 

[whs]

Can you post a picture of your Disk Management? Maybe we can see what's odd with the C partition.

 

[MRINAL KANT]

Can you post a picture of your Disk Management? Maybe we can see what's odd with the C partition.

yes why not ... but please wait

 

[MRINAL KANT]

there it is

 

[whs]

It is hard to tell because you did not expand the upper field called "Status". But it looks like your C partition is the System partition which contains the bootmgr.

Please check that. Expand the field "Status" and see whether it says "System" and "Active". If that is the case, deleting the partition would make your system unbootable. Post back and we'll tell you what you need to do.

 

[gregrocker]

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map and listings:

1. Type Disk Management in Start Search box.
2. Open Disk Mgmt. window and maximize it.
3. Type Snipping Tool in Start Search box.
4. Open Snipping Tool, choose Rectangular Snip, click New, draw a box around full drive map and all listings.
5, Save Snip, attach using paper clip in Reply Box.

Tell us what is on each partition.

Were you not aware you are to boot the WIn7 installer to install it? If you're installed on D it is because you incorrectly ran the installer from another OS. Do you still have another OS on C?

 

[whs]

Greg, there is a screenshot 3 posts ahead. But you can't see much because he did not expand the status field. But since the C partition is the only primary partition (judging by the color), I assume it contains the bootmgr.

 

[gregrocker]

Righto Wolfgang - just asking for the fuller DM screenshot to confirm all the flags..

C is clearly System holding the boot files, which is why it won't format and likely had/has an OS he ran WIn7 installer from.

D has Win7 as signified by boot flag but can't host boot files since it's Logical. So he can either convert D to Primary to claim the Win7 boot files allowing C to be formatted, or leave the C boot partition as it is having a data partition host the boot files.

I would myself either reinstall WIn7 to C or if he wants Win8 install it there which itself would take care of the 7 boot files by configuring a Dual Boot.

 

[MRINAL KANT]

It is hard to tell because you did not expand the upper field called "Status". But it looks like your C partition is the System partition which contains the bootmgr.

Please check that. Expand the field "Status" and see whether it says "System" and "Active". If that is the case, deleting the partition would make your system unbootable. Post back and we'll tell you what you need to do.

this is enlarged image .

 

[Kaktussoft]

Your bootmgr and bootmenu are on C!! How did you install WIN7?? It looks drive letter C was already in use when installing win7. So not done by booting by win7 install DVD. Did you install WIN7 when booted in another win7/vista/winxp?

As greg told you ... first convert D (your win7 partition) to PRIMARY with partition wizard.
How to set partition as Primary with partition manager?
Post screenshot of disk managment afterwards

 

[Kaktussoft]

BTW why do you want to delete C? Do you want to add that space to D?

 

[MRINAL KANT]

Your bootmgr and bootmenu are on C!! How did you install WIN7?? It looks drive letter C was already in use when installing win7. So not done by booting by win7 install DVD. Did you install WIN7 when booted in another win7/vista/winxp?

As greg told you ... first convert D (your win7 partition) to PRIMARY with partition wizard.
How to set partition as Primary with partition manager?
Post screenshot of disk managment afterwards

When i was using xp it was installed in C but after that i have installed 7 in D and formated XP which was in C .

 

[Kaktussoft]

Your bootmgr and bootmenu are on C!! How did you install WIN7?? It looks drive letter C was already in use when installing win7. So not done by booting by win7 install DVD. Did you install WIN7 when booted in another win7/vista/winxp?

As greg told you ... first convert D (your win7 partition) to PRIMARY with partition wizard.
How to set partition as Primary with partition manager?
Post screenshot of disk managment afterwards

When i was using xp it was installed in C but after that i have installed 7 in D and formated XP which was in C .

So you installed win7 from within winxp (which already has C assigned).

Not a real problem. Except the fact that most tutorials point to C drive in explanation. And some bad written scripts reference to C.