Microsoft KB Archive/269818

= Can't Format When Starting with the Minimal Option on Windows Me Startup Disk =

Article ID: 269818

Article Last Modified on 1/27/2007

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q269818



If this article does not describe your hardware-related issue, please see the following Microsoft Web site to view more articles about hardware:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/w98?sid=460



SYMPTOMS
When you use the Windows Millennium Edition Startup Disk and you choose the Minimal option, you cannot format the hard disk drive. You receive one of the following error messages:  If your hard disk drive has less than 60 gigabytes (GB), you receive the following error message:

Bad command or file name.

 If your hard disk drive has more than 60 GB, you receive the following error message

Invalid media type reading drive X:

Abort, Retry, or Fail?

where X is the letter of the disk drive you are trying to format.



CAUSE
Windows Millennium Edition does not include an uncompressed version of Format.com on the Windows Millennium Startup Disk. It does contain a compressed version of Format.com in the file Edb.cab file on the Startup Disk. The compressed version of Format.com is only extracted into the RAM drive created by the Startup Disk when you boot with one of the following startup options:
 * Help
 * Start computer with CD-ROM support
 * Start computer without CD-ROM support



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, reboot your computer using the Windows Millennium Edition Startup Disk, and choose one of the following options:
 * Help
 * Start computer with CD-ROM support
 * Start computer without CD-ROM support

Additional query words: HWDDRV 60gb, 60 gb, format, invalid media

Keywords: kbprb KB269818

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.