how to reformat a hard drive

[flashgordonion]

I am trying to reformat my one 120GB hard drive. When I go to command promp and type /format c: it gives me the warning that data will be lost. after typing Y it says \

format cannot run because the volume is in use by another prosses. Format may run if this volume is dismounted first. ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID. Would you like to force a dismount on this voulume?

when I go yes it says

Cannot lock the drive volume is still in use.

How do I "dismound the volume" or otherwise reformat the hd.

[pkstar7070]

sounds like you are trying to format your c: from windows's dos prompt?

[flashgordonion]

yeah I was where do I reformat it from.

[CDRecorder]

You can't reformat the hard drive on which Windows is loaded while Windows is running. If you boot from a floppy (or, if you're running Win98, even from the hard drive if you load the "safe mode commmand prompt"), you can format the drive easily.

[TheWizard]

You could also use Maxtor's PowerMax tools or Western Digital's comparable software (the name escapes me right now). Essentially you put the software on a floppy, boot your computer from that floppy, and it allows you to run diagnostics and other things on your hard drive. One of the options is to format the drive.