Question how to delete computer with minimum number of clicks

[jimdagys]

I would like to know how to delete the computer (C, D, E partitions) on xp with the minimum number of clicks. For example on this computer, if I click
Start>Run>cmd
then I will see
C:\Documents and Settings\VIC>
prompt. If I type in
format *.*
and click enter
will this delete all the drives? Or is it necessary to go back to the root directory prompt (type cd \)
C:\>
and type in
format*.*
and click enter? In this case, will this only delete the C drive? In that case, I won't be able to use Windows to delete the remaining D and E partitions.

[Supreme2k]

you can always try one of these disk wipers.

[jimdagys]

I don't want to use any software to do this.

[SLK001]

Windows won't let

format *.*

work. You MUST provide a drive letter (ie, >FORMAT D:).

As for the partitions, you have to use the DISK MANAGEMENT tool in CONTROL PANEL>ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS>COMPUTER MANAGEMENT>STORAGE>DISK MANAGEMENT to delete the partitions. While Windows is running, you can only delete partitions that the operating system is NOT on.

I'm not exactly sure what you are up to, but the above is the Windows method. There are other, third party applications that can do this, too.

To remove the system drive information, you need to run the program from another operating system (like a BartPE system CD disk).

[gadgetguy]

I don't want to use any software to do this.

If you're doing this to prevent the data from being accessed, then you're wasting your time. Without using some type of software to wipe and overwrite the drive, everything on it would be recoverable. But if you want to go ahead anyway...

format E:
format D:
format C:

[jimdagys]

Thanks for the reply. In other words, if I type in
FORMAT C:
will that delete the operating system (assuming Windows is on C)?
Do I have to be in the C directory prompt (C:\>) for this to work, or can I be in the default prompt, which on this computer is
C:\Documents and Settings\VIC>

Edit: You said:

While Windows is running, you can only delete partitions that the operating system is NOT on.

Then in that case, it seems that it is impossible to do this (delete C drive) without software?

[gadgetguy]

You haven't told us anything about this computer or why you're doing this, but if you have a floppy drive you can use a boot floppy and issue the commands from there. Or a boot CD...

[jagabo]

Format has a /X switch which will force a dismount. I don't know if it works with the boot drive.

If you're trying to secure a drive before selling it or giving it away, be aware that it's pretty easy to unformat a formatted drive. You need to wipe it instead.

[jimdagys]

I want to be clear about this. Above was stated:

While Windows is running, you can only delete partitions that the operating system is NOT on.

Question: Does that mean it is impossible to delete the contents of the C drive without the use of software? I don't want to use any additional software, or CD drive or floppy to do this.

[jagabo]

I want to be clear about this. Above was stated:

While Windows is running, you can only delete partitions that the operating system is NOT on.

Question: Does that mean it is impossible to delete the C drive without the use of software?

You can't do anything on a computer without software. You cannot format the boot drive with the Windows format program while Windows is running.

[Supreme2k]

As gadgetguy said, you would have to do it using a boot floppy, CD or usb drive. You cannot delete the drive that holds the operating system while you are in that operating system.

You basically have to be detached from the drives (in a software sense, not physically) in order to erase them.

[jagabo]

You could open a CLI, start up debug, type in a virus that takes over the computer and clobbers the partition table, then run it.

[Number Six]

Take the drive out of the computer, install it in another computer as a slave, and format it there.

[jimdagys]

So then, Windows cannot be deleted using standard commands from Start>Run>cmd.
I find it interesting how much mis-information there is on this topic.
There seems to be a lot of info on the web that says you can do this (delete Windows from Windows). For example, if you go to a university web site called Essential Dos Commands:
http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/tips/doshelp.html
you will see:

IMPORTANT WARNING: This command [erase] is easy to use, but it is the most dangerous one you will encounter in DOS (apart form FORMAT). If you aren't careful, you may delete a file which you--or someone else--needs. And, unless you have saved a backup of that file, the erased file is gone for good. For this reason it is good practice to use only complete file specifications with the ERASE command (and to keep backups of your most valuable files). As a safety precaution, never use the wild-card characters '*' and '?' in ERASE commands.
BEWARE: I will rescind your laboratory privileges for a full week if you ever knowingly use either the command: erase c:*.*, or the command: erase *.*. Guess what happens?

Reading this seems to imply that you can delete Windows from Start>Run>cmd. So I don't know why there is conflicting information.

[jagabo]

I believe Win95/98/ME can format the boot drive. Certainly DOS could.

[Number Six]

When you are running a command prompt from within Windows - Windows is still active, and therefore cannot format itself into oblivion. Windows has to be inactive to do any destructive format to its partition. This is why a scandisk has to be scheduled to run at startup, before Windows becomes active.

[Number Six]

I believe Win95/98/ME can format the boot drive. Certainly DOS could.

Yes - I do believe that this is true, but these operating systems are antiquated and had a true DOS environment. Later operating systems run in a more protected mode, and do not have a true DOS environment.

[Supreme2k]

Actually, that article is from 1994, so it's (almost) completely irrelevant in a Windows system.

The only relevant part is that the instructions are for DOS, in which a boot floppy will start.



Basically, it works like painting a floor: You can paint the floor only around you (the operating system),. Once you get to a certain point, you can't paint anymore. If you go out of (the) window and reach in, you can finish painting.

[jimdagys]

Got it. Can't delete Windows from Windows command prompt.

[gll99]

Can you explain why you want to do this?

[jimdagys]

Won't explain. I just wanted a quick way to make some xp computers so they wouldn't boot into Windows. I really don't know very much about this. So I took a Windows install disk and started to install Windows and then removed the disk after several minutes. That caused the computer to not boot up. I just thought there would be a faster way (maybe less than 10 seconds), preferably without using a disk.

[guns1inger]

If you can't give a valid reason then the assumption is that you are up to no good, in which case why should we aid you in something that may well be illegal.

I also wonder why you seem completely incapable of doing any research yourself on seemingly any topic ? Surely you can spell google ?

[edDV]

Won't explain. I just wanted a quick way to make some xp computers so they wouldn't boot into Windows. I really don't know very much about this. So I took a Windows install disk and started to install Windows and then removed the disk after several minutes. That caused the computer to not boot up. I just thought there would be a faster way (maybe less than 10 seconds), preferably without using a disk.

You can resort to sledge hammer and sandpaper but a reformat won't hide your data from a police or divorce lawyer capture of your drive. Formatting doesn't destroy data on the drive. The magnetic bits remain. Tell it to the Judge. He may put you in Madoff's cell but probably a worse pain in the ass than Madoff.

[AlanHK]

The approved army method is to shoot a bullet through the hard disk. Takes a second, no software or disk required.

It definitely will not boot after that.

[jagabo]

Formatting a drive is like removing the table of contents from a book. All the pages of text are still there for someone who knows how to find them.

[surfmonkee]

get the windows machine to make a 'boot disk' on floppy, start the pc with the floppy in and once you get the command prompt just type in format C: or whatever your drive is labelled.

[tinker]

Formatting a drive is like removing the table of contents from a book. All the pages of text are still there for someone who knows how to find them.

This is only true if you just format the drive without reinstalling something new. After that there is very little chance to get back what you had on before.
There are software that overwrite deleted files so they cannot be restored any more, but he does not want to use any.

[Supreme2k]

guns1inger,
I wonder where are all the "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!" people? There's usually a landslide of them whenever anything even slightly negative is said about these people who "don't spend all day on heir computer" (though they've been here 6 years).

[jagabo]

Formatting a drive is like removing the table of contents from a book. All the pages of text are still there for someone who knows how to find them.

This is only true if you just format the drive without reinstalling something new. After that there is very little chance to get back what you had on before.

That's why I didn't say "formatting a drive and filling it with new files is like removing the table of contents..."

[greymalkin]

Hey guys..how can I kill myself and then dispose of my own body?

I don't want anyone else to help.