Format C: Bad Command

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 27 Jun 2003 6:26 am

I re- partitioned the hard drive on my Compaq Laptop.
It now has 1 partition instead of 2 and no Operating System installed.
I have Windows 98 CD and Boot Disk.
Problem: Formatting C:
When I enter A:\>format C: I get Bad command or file name.
When I go back and check the partition from the DOS menu everything checks out good.
Any suggestions?[This message was edited by Tom Mortensen on 27 June 2003 at 07:27 AM.]

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 27 Jun 2003 7:00 am

"Bad command or file name" normally means the OS can't find the executable, in this case format.com. If indeed it isn't on the floppy, copy it from another Windows 98 PC. Another option if your BIOS can be set to boot from a CD, is to boot from your Windows 98 CD and allow the installation to format your drive. (I think that was an option for 98.)

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 27 Jun 2003 7:05 am

Thanks Jim,
I tried formating from the 98 CD and it stopped because of an Error.
I have tried extracting the format.com file from ebd.cab but it gives a Write protect error writing drive A.
I am following instructions from several online sources and nothing works so far.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 27 Jun 2003 7:10 am

A write protect error usually means the little write protect tab on the floppy is open. It must be closed in order to write to it.

If the CD gives an error formatting, that sounds like the partition you created has a problem. Double check that you made it a primary partition and marked it active so you can boot from it. It might be easier to delete the partition completely and let Windows partition and format the drive itself.

If none of that works, you may have a bad drive or possibly a loose drive or power cable.

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 27 Jun 2003 7:24 am

Write protect tap is set properly.

I went back and deleted partion 1 and let Windows 98 CD set it up.
Still get an error when it tries to format.

Is there a conflict with the BIOS...wanting to see two partitions on this Compaq Computer?

Jim, I appreciate your ideas and help.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 27 Jun 2003 7:35 am

Compaq's are and have always been weird, in my opinion. I'm not familiar with laptops, but I can't think of any reason why the BIOS would insist on seeing two partitions.

It does seem that something in the laptop is preventing you from writing and/or formatting. That could possibly be a security setting in the BIOS, to keep unauthorized people from copying data or reformatting your hard drive.

That's about all I can suggest, but what error are you getting when you try to format the drive?

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 27 Jun 2003 7:38 am

Error:
Setup cannot install Windows 98 on your computer.

An error was detected while formatting your primary hard disk partition.

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 27 Jun 2003 10:22 am

The solution:
I found a Compaq customer support chat site,the tech was helpful.
I first had to enter the DIR Command,
Then entered Format C:
Holy Cow it works!![This message was edited by Tom Mortensen on 27 June 2003 at 11:23 AM.]

Everett Cox · Post by **Everett Cox** » 27 Jun 2003 11:16 am

Tom--Presuming you were using the boot disk created by Win98 (Control Panel/Start Up Disk):::

Booting with that disk will create a VIRTUAL (RAM) disk in memory. It then copies/extracts the utilities to THAT 'drive' and executes from there. The letter assigned to the RAM drive is dependant upon the machine's other existing drives. You SHOULD have gotten a message telling you the RAM drive was setup OK and the drive letter.

So, that's why you got the error mentioned in your original post. You should have logged on to the RAM drive to run Format.

When you attempted to extract Format from EBD.CAB to the floppy (A

, perhaps there was not enough space????

Once you got a good Format.com, I don't know why you get an error trying to format drive C:.

Hope this is helpful --Everett