At 05:23 PM 1/21/1999 Mike Bridges wrote:
>
>. . .
> The problem is when I try to format the drive with the format c:/s
>command I get a message saying "Insufficient memory to load system
>files.Format terminated." Some members of the list seemed to think
>this was a virus.I have run updated McAfee and Norton ant virus
>programs on this machine and found nothing. . . . .


Mike:

Assuming this is an IDE hard drive. . .

If this is a wipe and clean mission and won't be saving
anything anywhere on the drive, I suggest you do a low level
format ("LLF"). That would "refresh" the low level formatting
of the drive itself.  You need special LLF software specifically
designed for this hard drive. Go to the maker's web site for
the LLF software.

You could also merely write zeroes to drive. Western Digital
LLF software only does this. This is "safer" in that the actual
LLF on the disk is not changed. IBM has a generic "write zeroes
to drive" software called WIPE. Check the IBM FTP site.

You can also merely remove the partition with FDISK, or use
debug (the script was posted here a while back), or IBM's ZAP
software.

For SCSI HDDs. . .

SCSI controllers have their own built in utilities which may
allow you to LLF the drive.

In all cases, be very CAREFUL with low level formatting.  You
can ruin the drive if it is not done properly. If you have any
doubts, do NOT do a LLF.

HTH.

John Chin

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