I want to format my friends computer because it doesn't start at all. I already tried the reintall win Xp but it only goes up to 6% and stops. I made a start up disk and the computer stars at the ms-dos and gives the promt (A:) but when I tried to use format C: it says bad command name or file name. Im able to change to C: and use dir to see the files. My cuestion is what could be wrong with the command format?

Go to this site, read info to get idea

Free Pc Tech Support - Boot Disk Downloads (http://freepctech.com/pc/002/files010.shtml)

And download this when you get there
MS Windows XP System setup disk
http://www.freepctech.net/files001/wxpboot.exe

In answer to your question, the FORMAT command will only be on the startup disk if you manually added it. It is not a normal component of such a disk.