help formatting!!!

[javpowell]

I am trying to format my hard drive under the windows ME OS. I have a boot disk and I start the formatting in DOS.

It starts to go, tests the files, and gets to 70 percent.

Then it says "insufficient memory"

is there any way to fix this and format my HD?

please help

[pacmania_2001]

How much RAM do you have?

[valzuniga]

I would try a low level format from the bios, most bios' come equipped with this option. But even before you try that, try to find a win98 boot disk and use the format tool there first. If none of these options work, try the fdisk option on the rescue diskette also, and repartition and reformat your drive.
Just some suggestions...

[javpowell]

bios? please explain

[Sefy]

Hi There, ok, for the best and quickest format use: FORMAT C: /U/Q/S
This will format quickly using unrecoverable format and therefor takes less memory, and also adds a Bootable option, incase it is your C drive and you want to be able to boot up from it, if it is not your boot drive but a secondary drive, you might as well format it through Windows Explorer, also check that your Hard Drive is configured correctly in the BIOS, the BIOS is what you see when your system starts up and runs diagnostics on your RAM and tells you which CPU is detect, usually you need to press DEL key if you want to get into the BIOS, if you do not know how to do changes, I do NOT recommand you to do them, if you just need to format a secondary drive do it through the Windows Explorer.

[holistic]

B I O S
Basic Input/Output System

Controls the hardware : motherboard , harddrive , memory, CPU.
For example. In order to OVERCLOCK your processor you can adjust the bus speed and (i like to up the voltage) [note : most intel CPU are multiplier locked so that is not touched]
This is done in the BIOS.
Unless you have an old motherboard it should detect your hardrive automatically for size , cylinders and sectors.
Like Sefy said : "if you do not know how to do changes, I do NOT recommand you to do them"
Don't know what it does . DON'T TOUCH

quote "It starts to go, tests the files, and gets to 70 percent"
Tests the files ????
1-Boot to DOS with your bootdisk
2-type "format C:"
3-you will be asked some along the lines "do you want to continue all data will be lost" - has been a while since i have done one !
4-yes
5-will format
6-will verify drive
7-will ask for drive 'LABEL' - enter name for drive
8-type d: (or whatever your CD drive is)
9-type setup - install windows.

[Sefy]

to the "2" I would add FORMAT C: /U/S/Q
/U = Unconditional Format, doesn't try to save any Unformat Information
/S = Will Transfer System files from your Floppy, won't work if you got Windows ME
/Q = Will perform a Quick Format, so you don't have to wait for ages!

[jtor]

Sefy, I don't think /U will work alongside a /Q.

[Sefy]

Oh it will, don't worry about that, however /Q won't work on a unformated drive.
I Know it works cause I do it nearly every day at work, unless I use Ghost to restore images.

[KingJohn]

For future reference
Make sure your boot disk installs the basic CD ROM drivers ! or you wont be able to get at any CD's Too late for that now Windows can make this boot disk with a few simple utils.

If you are re-installing Windows from fresh, you don't need to format anyway. Just delete "c:\windows" and "c:\Program Files" (c:\progra~1)in DOS you can clear up the rest of any old programs when you have the new os installed.

[Sefy]

By the way, I just thought of something, i'm not sure that Windows ME's DOS supports Format!
i'd suggest you try getting Windows98 Boot Disk instead! would cause you less troubles for sure