Hi all im trying to format my windows xp lap top but im getting a error message windows cannot format this drive.quit any disc untilities or other ptograms that are using the drive,and make sure that no window is displaying the contents of the drive.then try formatting again.....as far as i can see nothing is open or being used....its the first time ive done this so it probably something staring me in the face but i just cant see it...any ideas please

Hi, and Welcome to DaniWeb

It sounds like you are trying to format the drive when you are just running windows normally. This will not work. you need to boot into the XP CD to do it. For instructions on how to boot into the CD, and what to do after look here.

http://www.resnet.uni.edu/docs/reformatxp.html

-T

hi tayspen thanks very much my laptop is formatting all sorted thanks for the help

Your Welcome.