Question : How to get a DOS prompt?

I have a laptop that is playing up (long story ..). I want to completely wipe it, using FDISK or FORMAT but the command I want is to run this by A:\ (that is currently displayed) to A:\FORMAT C:\. Is this the correct syntax? If it is, the problem I am having is that I can't get a backslash. If this is a keyboard problem, how would I fix it? If I can't fix it, is there another way of doing this? Help! (I am using another laptop to log this).

Answer : How to get a DOS prompt?

If you want to get a backslash it might be on a different key to start with, turn on the Number pad lock (or use an external keyboard), hold down the left Alt button and press 092 then release .

Otherwise from your command prompt do,

a:
format c:

Can I ask why you want to blank it?  You could just boot of an OS CD, e.g. XP and then remove the partition that is there when you want to install it?

Steve