I was trying to set up a RAID1 array in a new system, and I stupidly installed windows first. I now need to get rid of windows. How do I do that. I tried formatting drive c but windows wont let me...

 

I have a disk made by Vcom called systemsuite that has a disk eraser on it.

 

Any program that'll boot from a floppy will work, even FDISK. Look around Maxtor's website for a few programs they have for that.

 

windows wont allow you to format it's own boot volume.

 

If you've got the windows disk lying around, just boot from it. With XP, if it finds an OS already on the primary HD partition, it should give you the option of dropping out to a command shell (and formatting it) or formatting it and messing with the partition table (by way of installing a new OS). Either option should work for your purposes.

 

on my win xp pro CDs, when you boot from it and find a bootable windows volume, you can wipe it out by doing a reformat.

now this is in the process of putting a fresh layer of windows.

but if all you want is to wipe out windows, then do this method.

only time i get a command prompt is the REPAIR option and even that, i dont think the FORMAT command is available. after all, you are trying to REPAIR your faulty windows installation...

 

wait... i would NOT raid the windows volume.

i'd raid the data volumes...


EDIT: wait... raid 1 is a mirror of a volume.

you can turn on and off mirror of a volume in windows on the fly. raid 1 is a 2 HD configuration where the first drive is the primary/boot volume and the 2nd drive is an exact copy of it.

we would do this when we are doing something to our webserver. first make sure 2nd drive has a good copy of drive one. break the mirror and then add the hardware or software. make sure machine works as normal. then reconnect the mirror. this takes an hour or so though...

 

Do a search on google for "KillDisk". You can also probably find it on download.com. I use it at work all the time.