login stuck on "Login Window Starting"

[bambazomke]

When I turn on lap top (iBook G4 Mac OS x 10.3) i get the following message "Login Window Starting"

I followed Apple support guidance - specifically safe start and performing the fsck then reboot process and neither works for me. I don't have the disks any more so I cant use them for reloading the software.

I want to sell the laptop so i just want to format the HD. Is it possible to format from command lines?

 

[old-wiz]

To format the HD, you need to boot from the install disk. You can't format a HD while you are running from it.