I want to use Norton Gdisk to setup three partitions using Fat 32, on a New Western Digital 160gb Internal IDE Hard Drive. As follows, use 35% of the 1st partition as Drive C:\ {install Win98 S.E. on Drive C:\}. Use 15% of the Second Partition for Document Backup and use 50% as the Third Partiton {install Win XP Pro. I added Norton Gdisk to a Win98 Boot Disk. My question is, what commands do I use with Norton Gdisk to auto Fdisk and Format of the Three Partitions? I know I can use a Partition Manager to achieve this but I want to give this method a try. Thanks

I suggest you do it manualy. Make the first partition FAT32. Make the second partition FAT32. Don't mess with the last area, let WinXP partition and format it during the install and make it FAT32 and not NTFS. Sorry, I do not check for private messages

Key in GDISK /? to see the main help information. Then for each sub-command help key in for example: GDISK /? /CRE Do ALL of these sub-helps. Key in: GDISK 1 to see information about disk drive 1. To automate a setup, use the /BATCH switch with a file that contains the commands. For example: GDISK /BATCH:TWOLOG.GG The contents of the text file TWOLOG.GG for example: 1 /MBR /WIPE /Y 1 /CRE /PRI /SZ:34 /FOR /Q /V:DOS /-32 /Y 1 /CRE /PRI /SZ:5120 /FOR /Q /V:WINXP /Y 1 /CRE /EXT /Y 1 /CRE /LOG /SZ:40P /FOR /Q /V:DDRIVE /Y 1 /CRE /LOG /FOR /Q /V:EDRIVE /Y 1 /ACT /P:2 /Y 1 /HIDE /P:1 /Y 1 I think there must be a space leading each line. The above example wipes the hard drive then creates/formats/names two primary partitions then creates/formats/names two logical partitions. The first logical uses 40% of the drive and the second logical uses the remainder of the drive. It then sets the second primary active and hides the 34 MB FAT16 primary partition. # For a 160 GB drive we end up with C:5 GB D:64 GB and E: 91 GB Best __________________________________________________________________

jubalsams Quote from your Post, "then sets the second primary active and hides the 34 MB FAT16 primary partition." I am wondering is there a reason For creating the FAT16 Partition? Below is a example list of the commands that I used with the Gdisk.exe before Posting my help request. A:\Gdisk 1 /CRE /PRI /SZ:50% /FOR /Q 1 /CRE /EXT 1 /CRE /LOG /SZ:25% /FOR /Q I am having two problems that I do not understand and/or know how to correct. 1. The above Gdisk Commands creates FAT 16 Partitions. {I want FAT32 Partitions not FAT16} 2. The above Gdisk Commands creates Drives C:\ and D:\, but does not create the 3rd. Partition. I tried adding another line that contains "1 /CRE /LOG /SZ:25% /FOR /Q" but received a bad command message. I believe, if I modify the Gdisk commands you listed I can achieve my desired results. If I leave out the command /-32 {/-32, ignores large disk support} shouldn't Gdisk create Fat32 Partitions? As listed above FAT 16 Partitions were created. Do you know what command tells Gdisk to create FAT32 Partitions? Thanks

"I am wondering is there a reason For creating the FAT16 Partition?" It's an example. To each his own, I like to create three primarys and an extended, avoids some problems if things need to be changed later. "2. The above Gdisk Commands creates Drives C:\ and D:\, but does not create the 3rd. Partition." The extended partition does not get a drive letter. You create logical partitions (that do get drive letters) WITHIN the extended partition. "Below is a example list of the commands that I used with the Gdisk.exe before Posting my help request. A:\Gdisk 1 /CRE /PRI /SZ:50% /FOR /Q 1 /CRE /EXT 1 /CRE /LOG /SZ:25% /FOR /Q" You should have keyed in (with enter after each line): GDISK 1 /MBR /WIPE GDISK 1 /CRE /PRI /SZ:50P /FOR /Q GDISK 1 /CRE /EXT GDISK 1 /CRE /LOG /SZ:25P /FOR /Q GDISK 1 /CRE /LOG /FOR /Q GDISK 1 /ACT /P:1 "As listed above FAT 16 Partitions were created. Do you know what command tells Gdisk to create FAT32 Partitions?" It's hard to know what you did using wrong syntax. GDISK defalts to FAT32. Some old versions do not allow the percent of drive option. As long as you have 6.0.0.35 (1999) or later it has this option. You need to specify the percent as P. % is a wildcard in DOS! Do not use percentage for the last partition created if you want to use the remainder. It defaults to all left on disk. Specifying a final percentage total 100% will be slightly too big, causing GDISK to bomb. Best _______________________________________________________

jubalsams Thanks, for your help. You did a great job of explaining the Gdisk Commands. It works like a charm.

Hey guys I need a script to run Gdisk off a floppy with a certain command at the beginning and then create a partition and format. An automated script basically. Anyone know how to do this? Thanks. I had seen this thread here and thought i might could post this and maybe get some feedback. Thanks!