urgent!!how to format the primary partition!!?

[darkvirus]

hii,..i'm new to here and also to computers...
i have an 80GB HDD..and
i have C:[20GB] as my default primary partition...but after some time some space say 10GB was taken though no files was stored there...so i tried to format it but..it says partition is not allowed to format...currently i've installed my XP in f: drive...and there is nothing in my c: drive but still showing 9GB as occupied...i want to format it...fully..
plz help me!!

[Pathik]

do u hav system restore turned on??? disable it..

[darkvirus]

i've just turned off the system restore and formattin the C: drive...hope it works.. [in DOS prompt]

edit1::::nope..it says systen not allowed to br formatted....

jeezz...how to format that primary partition...??

[s18000rpm]

use your XP CD & format C: drive.

[koolbluez]

i say format everything.. & start afresh... C should b where the OS b installed.. I hate systems which have otherwise.

Try to format in DOS mode or as S18000rpm said to. Or u can try deleting any file/formatting by using any live cd available online.

[digiFriend]

BOOT.ini
ntdetect.com
ntldr

This 3 files are in C: that help in dual booting. this files are needed for booting of Windows Xp in your F: .if you formated your c: drive this files will get deleted and you will not able to boot your winXp
use bootable winXp cd and formate c:
then again
use winxp bootable cd and select recovery console. in command prompt type "fixboot" -to make new files.