Hi, Im trying to reformat my laptop, doing all Im supposed to, when I get to the dart where I type in Format C: it comes up with BAd command. Any ideas. Thanks

Maybe you have accidently deleted the file required for formatting.
You can try reformatting by using your OS setup CD.Go to your CD-ROM drive and change the directory to your relevent software.From there u should be able to use the format option.
For example:If you are using Win98, and your CD drive letter is D, then insert the CD in the drive, change the command prompt from C:\> to D:\> and type 'D:\>Win98\format c:' and then press enter.
Hope this solves your problem.

Alternatively, go to Control Panel in Windows 98. Double-click on Add/Remove Programs and you should see a Startup Disk tab. Follow the instructions on that screen to make a new Windows 98 Startup Disk (this requires one floppy disk). Reboot your PC with the new floppy disk inserted in the floppy drive and it will then boot to an A:> prompt. At the A:> prompt, type format c: /s

Let us know if you get it to work or if you need further help

You shouldn't attempt to format the drive which you have booted from. Once the format completes, the command interpreter will be gone and only the last command in memory will remain. ie; format.com.

Such is the same with the above scenario offered by Nisar. After the format, you'll be left hanging in mid-air so to speak.

If you do either of the above, you'll be left with no way to boot your system without a floppy drive or bootable CD.

If your O/S installation CD is bootable (not all 98 CD's are, make sure first) boot with that and then format the C: drive. Or, if there is a floppy drive in the laptop, boot with a 98SE bootdisk* to have CDROM support to load the new O/S. In either case, you may have to enter your bios setup to ensure/set the floppy or CDROM as the first boot device.

*This bootdisk file must be RUN to CREATE a bootable floppy on one of your floppy disks. Don't just copy this file to a floppy.

DJNafey is quicker than I on the keyboard. ;>)

lol

Originally Posted by Dan Penny

You shouldn't attempt to format the drive which you have booted from. Once the format completes, the command interpreter will be gone and only the last command in memory will remain. ie; format.com.

Such is the same with the above scenario offered by Nisar. After the format, you'll be left hanging in mid-air so to speak.

Well i think there is no need to worry because one will be formatting from the OS setup disk.So the command interpreter will be back once the OS has been installed.Thats the reason i suggested the above method.

Nisar, the way you presented it in your posting sounds like you were promoting that reddwarf should initiate the format command while booted to windows, in which case the command interpreter will be lost upon completion of the format.

In this way, the CDROM support drivers would be lost as well as they're on C:.
Reddwarf would receive a "Not ready reading drive x:, Abort, Retry, Cancel" error.

Oh really?Is it?Soory Dan i didnt knew that.