Can't format drive- I'm stumped

T

twwabw

Gawd
Joined
Apr 21, 2001
Messages
716
In a Gateway PC for a client- tried 3 drives- all the same result. Goes 100% through format, then says "Setup was unable to format the partition. Makes sure drive is switched on, blah blah blah." Also replaced IDE cable. Then, one time at boot w/CD for format, got BSOD, with KMODE exception error.

Was using a Windows 2000 disk, but then tried it with XP Pro disk for kicks, got the same result..... :confused:

Ideas??

BTW, even GDISK'd them, with /mbr /wipe. Same results.
 
Have you tried putting drive in another comp, and trying to format.. Though if that works it could be a sign of a dying gatewate mobo or hd controller.. If it does not work could be a sign of a dying hd.. Never hurts to check jumpers on hd either.. Hope it helps..
 
Thanks- yes- jumpers are all fine- like I said, I've tried 3 different drives! I've even swapped IDE channels, same thing. I know the drives I've used are OK- I use them all the time for cloning, etc. I'm formatting one in another PC now.

I've wondered about mobo too.... it's old (all their stuff is old!). It's a 5 yr old PIII-550. I'll keep trying.
 
Ahh, I might have a possible solution. Check the BIOS for any option that tells it that its a Windows installation. Places to check would be the ide options, etc.

I had a quite similar problem with a compaq of similar era, I could not format the drive with NTFS for a win2k instal until I turned that option to "non-windows" or "other" option. Basically, it equated Windows with FAT32 and crapped out when it tried NTFS.
 
Hahaha- Comcraps.... I hear ya. I ran into that with a client laptop. Anyway, no settings in Bios for that.

I ended up formatting the drive ntfs in another pc; put it back into the Gateway and installed Windows onto it. It's running fine :confused:

Oh well.... another bizarre one for sure.
 
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