My original XP Pro OS got corrupted following a CHKDSK procedure that wiped out some OS files. I finally had to re-install on another partition and now I want to format partition C: to get rid of what ever was wrong with it. But FORMAT has terminated before finishing on three tries. I deleted 99% of the files but about 5 or 6 remain saying that the system cannot delete them and they are what is preventing the FORMAT from working. Why isn't FORMAT just crushing those files?????1 person got this answerI do too

If you reinstalled to another partition then the boot loader is still on the origonal partition and formating that partition will render your PC unbootableStart over and clean install win correctly http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.htmlBTW a broken chkdsk procedure could indicate that your HD has a problem, you might want to visit your HD makers site and download / create the bootable disk checking utility eg SeaTools for Seagate disks

If the installation of XP Pro was done incorrectly, it was under the direction of a Microsoft Support tech. When I re-contacted the tech about the issue of not being able to format Drive C:, he just said not to do it unless I needed to reinstall XP Pro again in the future.. I read the reference above and it looks like we should have re-installed XP Pro on the original Drive C: ??Anyway, because of the effort to re-install most of my apps so far, and because I cannot make C: totally clean, I've decided to just live with the the OS being on Drive E: and with the few files that are still on C: and use C: as an archive partition for my music and photos..Thanks for the input..

Try to use Partition Assistant Home Edition to solve your problem.It is the free version, you can have a try, believe me, it works like a charm.http://www.extend-partition.com/free-partition-manager.html