Attempting to format c drive. Getting error response "Checking existing disk format. Recording current bad clusters. 2 percent completed insufficient memory."


Have 16 Gig. disk and 256 Mb RAM. Would greatly appreciate any assistance.

Some stuff to go through to resolve this issue: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000230.htm

If you're using the /s switch with the format command on large disks you can get memory errors.

I see the "format c: /s" suggestion given all over the web. MS even includes it in their documentation.

If you are installing a Microsoft O/S from 95 up, it's not needed as the O/S install provides the "sys C:" function (same thing as the /s on the format command).

Many thanks for your help, unfortunately I'm stll in trouble. Now format starts, but at 2% complete a message "trying to recover allocation unit 23,694" then similarly 23,696 is received. Format staggers on to 8% completion, when the message "8% completed not ready format terminated" is received. Fdisk verifies 100% integrity if this means anything. Can anything further be tried? Any further suggestions would be much appreciated.

Lower your hopes, this sounds much like a hardware problem with the hdd then.

HDD maufacturers provide their own tools for hdd diagnostics, so if u can tell me what harddisk it is i will post back a link with the diagnostic tool to thouroughly check your hdd

I gather you're booting from a known good 98(SE) EBD. (Emergency Boot Disk.) If not booting from a floppy, please advise.

Run fdisk and choose option 4. Post back the exact results.

Drive is 16 Gb Maxtor model no. 9172808

Results of Fdisk option 4:-
Display Partition Information

Partition Status Type Vol. Label Mbytes System Usage

C:1 A PRI DOS - 16473 UNKNOWN 100%

Total disk space is 16473 Mbytes (1 Mbyte = 1048576 bytes)


Press Esc to continue

That's everything on the screen, hope it helps. Thanks again. tomgreen

Partition information look ok to me. Partition is there, but not formatted as you can see be System: UNKNOWN

Still suggest running the Maxtor tool and check the disk thouroughly.
Tool can be found at http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Ma...&downloadID=22

I agree. Run the PowerMax utilities on the drive. If there are no problems reported with the disk, at this stage, it wouldn't hurt to run what they call; Low Level Format (FULL).

Many thanks for your advice, I have downloaded Powermax.exe but unfortunately it will only run in a Windows environment. Previous attempts to format have removed, or made inaccessable, Windows on my system. If I try to load files from the boot disc with the command "sys C:", with a view to restoring Windows the reply "Invalid media type reading drive C Abort Retry Fail" is received.

Apologies for the nuisance, any further suggestions? Thanks Tomgreen.