How to Resolve the Issue of 'System Partition Cannot be Formatted'

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Tracy King 

Updated on April 22, 2024

能否格式化系统分区？

Occasionally, users might encounter a message stating, "System partition is not allowed to be formatted," when attempting to format the system partition. This occurs because the system partition houses essential boot files like BCD, bootmgr, and boot.ini, along with the installation area for the Windows operating system. Formatting this partition would result in the deletion of all these contents, subsequently rendering the computer unable to boot.

You may wonder if there's a way to format the system partition. Yes, you can format system partitions even when Windows is not functioning, for instance, in WinPE or on another PC. By connecting the system disk to another computer as a secondary drive, you can format it easily. If detaching and attaching hard disks is inconvenient, try the methods below to complete the formatting process.

Method 1: Format System Partition with Partition Master Tool

The efficient formatting tool - tools Partition Master Professional - makes formatting a hard drive partition effortless. It is a partition manager tailored for users to better manage their hard drives and partitions. Not only does it allow you to format partitions as per your requirements, but it also enables you to create, resize, move, merge, and clone partitions.

To format the system partition, you'll need to create a bootable disk, boot your computer from this disk, and then format the system partition. The process outlined below can guide you through formatting the system partition. Read on to learn more.

1. Create a Bootable Windows Media using Partition Master Tools

Step 1. To create a bootable disk of tools Partition Master, you'll need a storage medium, such as a USB drive, flash drive, or CD/DVD disc. Connect the drive to your computer properly.

Step 2. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, and locate the "Bootable Media" feature on the left. Click on it.

Step 3. You can select the USB or CD/DVD when the drive is available. However, if you don't have a storage device at hand, you can also save the ISO file to a local drive and burn it to a storage media later. After making your choice, click the "Create" button to start the process.

检查警告信息，然后单击“是”。

Step 4. When the process is complete, a pop-up window will ask if you want to restart your computer from the bootable USB.

• Reboot Now: This means you wish to restart the current PC and enter the Bootable Media to manage your disk partitions without an operating system.
• Done: This indicates that you do not want to restart the current PC, but instead intend to use the bootable USB drive on a different PC.

注意:要在新电脑上使用可引导磁盘，您需要重新启动目标计算机，然后按F2/F8/Del键进入BIOS，并将USB可引导磁盘设置为第一启动磁盘。

耐心等待，你的电脑将自动从USB引导媒体启动并进入WinPE工具桌面。

2. Boot the Computer from the Bootable Media

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F2 (or, depending on your computer, F8 or Delete) to enter BIOS.

Step 2. In BIOS, configure the computer to boot from the bootable USB/CD/DVD.

3. Format System C Drive Using Partition Master Tool

Upon startup, your computer will boot into a system with Partition Master installed. At this point, your computer is running on a different operating system with the capability to format partitions. You can now proceed to format the system partition.

Step 1. Right-click on the hard drive partition and select the "Format" option.

Step 2. In the new window, specify the Partition label, File system, and Cluster size for the partition, then click "OK".

Step 3. A warning window will appear; click "Yes" to proceed.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button, followed by "Apply" to commence formatting the hard drive partition.

Download this powerful tool and revel in the advantages it brings to you!

Method 2: Format the System Partition Using a Windows Installation Disc

This method provides a convenient way to format the C drive. You can use the installation disc for Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista to format the C drive. The steps to do so are as follows:

Step 1. Insert the Windows Installation Disc and start the computer. Follow the instructions that appear after inserting the CD into the optical hard drive.

Step 2. Click "Next" after selecting the language you want to use.

Step 3. Choose "Install Now" and wait for it to finish. This is not the same as installing the Windows operating system.

Step 4. Select "Next" after accepting the terms and conditions.

Step 5. From the drop-down menu, choose "Custom (advanced)." This will display a list of all the currently installed drives.接下来， from the same drop-down menu, select "Drive settings (advanced)" and then click on "Next."

Step 6. Select "Format" from the drop-down menu. Windows will now begin the formatting process on your hard drive.

Here are two practical solutions to resolve the issue of the system partition not being allowed to format. You can also click on the social sharing buttons to share it with others who might need it.

Conclusion

Using the methods above, you can format the system partition without any issues. However, we still advise you to reconsider your decision before proceeding. If your intention for removing the operating system is to make space for a new OS installation, you actually don't need to do so. When you install Windows on a disk that already has an operating system, formatting will take place during the installation process.

For a simpler solution to system partition formatting, you can utilize the tool Partition Master. It is more straightforward, efficient, and user-friendly, particularly for beginners with Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting System Partition Not Allowed

As we know, the system partition cannot be formatted directly due to Windows' protection mechanism. If you have further questions regarding this issue, please don't hesitate to ask. Follow along and find answers below:

**1. How do I fix the issue of "Windows cannot format the system partition on this disk"?**

To proceed, first, make sure you are prepared for the consequences of formatting the system partition – an unbootable Windows, data loss, unbootable software, and so on.

If that's the case, you can use the tool Partition Master to create a bootable USB drive. Then, restart your PC from the bootable USB to enter Partition Master. Once there, right-click on the system partition and select format.

**2. How do I force a partition to format?**

1. Right-click on the Windows icon, and choose "Disk Management" from the context menu. 2. Right-click on the partition you wish to force format and select "Format..." 3. Choose a new file system, such as NTFS or exFAT, and check the box for "Quick Format." 4. Click "OK."

3. Is it okay to format the system partition?

Well, it's not advisable to format a system partition on a running Windows computer. When you format a Windows system partition, you might encounter the following issues:

• Data loss
• Software unbootable
• Operating system crash or failure, etc.

To ensure your operating system runs smoothly on your computer, Microsoft does not permit you to directly format the system drive. If you need to reformat the system partition for a new OS installation, you can utilize a tool like Partition Master, which offers a "Create Bootable Media" feature, for assistance.