File Manager Cannot Format Drive the System Was Started From

 Last reviewed: November 22, 1994
Article ID: Q83972
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 4.x, 5.0

SUMMARY

When you use File Manager (WINFILE.EXE) in the Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1, you cannot format the drive that the system was started from. For example, if the machine was started from drive A, you cannot format a disk in drive A from File Manager. If you try to do this, Windows generates the following error message: 

   Cannot format the MS-DOS startup drive
NOTE: This problem occurs only with versions of MS-DOS later than 4.01.

MORE INFORMATION

File Manager attempts to read the boot sector from the boot drive the system was started from in order to format a disk. If File Manager tries to format the disk in the drive the system was started from, it has to assume that the drive has no boot sector on it and that it cannot to obtain one.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows version 3.1 File Manager. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

KBCategory: kbbuglist kbtool
KBSubcategory: win31
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.11

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Last reviewed: November 22, 1994
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