What does it mean when you try to format your hard drive but every time you try you get a 'Unable to Lock Harddrive' message?

In: Windows

Answer

It means that you are currently using a file or files on the hard drive you are trying to format. If you are trying to format your primary drive you will need to boot to a boot disk - not the C: drive.

For most versions of windows you will will need to make the boot disk(s) (an option under My Computer) and boot to those disks rather than your hard drive.

 

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