How to Format Drive C in Windows XP Without the CD

Formatting the C drive from within the Windows XP operating system is impossible, as the operating system will not allow itself to "self-destruct." Therefore, the typical method of formatting the drive is to do so outside of the Windows OS environment by using the setup CD. Where the Windows XP setup CD is not available, you can nevertheless format the C drive using a standard DOS boot disk or CD.

Things You'll Need

• DOS boot disk or CD

Instructions

1. Insert the boot disk or CD into the computer.

2. Restart the PC.

3. Press any key to boot from disk or CD.

4. Type in "format c:" and press "Enter."

5. Press "Y" to confirm that you wish to format the drive.

References

• Computer Hope: Format