Tom's Guide | Tom's Hardware | Tom's Games
 |
 |
 |
I'm using a DOS boot (6.22 i think) to format my HD. When it boots, I try to change the directory from A:\> to C: but it tells me "Invalid drive specification"
What's going on here? I need to format this drive!
Using 622 is just... insane(!)
XP has its own tools - boot from the CD and use those
Saying that XP is the most stable MS OS is like saying that asparagus is the most articulate vegetable
0 
It sounds like you could use the assistance of someone who is computer savvy -- do you have a friend who can help you? If not...
The drive may be too big for DOS. Why not format it during the XP install?
If you just want to format the drive and it's not too big for DOS, at the A: prompt just type:
format c:
If the drive is too big for DOS, or if you haven't created any partitions yet, run fdisk and create them prior to formatting.
0
If I remember correctly, 6.22 formats as FAT which can not be used on larger drives. You are better to get yourself a win98 boot disk which will format as FAT32
0
622 is the only ISO i could find to make a boot out of.
I'm trying to delete windows and install ubuntuand I've tried just typing format C: but it gives me the same
response.I don't have a windows cd.
0
You can download windows 98 boot disk, but if 6.22 is all you have then you could try making a MUCH smaller partition (sorry, can't remember the exact max partition size for FAT.. try 200meg) and then try format/s to create a bootable partition. Once you have a bootable partition on the drive... then the sky's the limit.
0
dos 6.22 will handle drives upto 8Gig... fat16 under dos/'9xME is limited to 2Gig max partitions; under NT family (NT/W2K/XP - W2K3?...) it's upto 4Gig max; for partitions under 514Meg (or is it 504Meg??? - anyway just over 500Meg) use fat16; and finally -fat32 is able to handle partitions significantly in excess of 2Gig...
Go to bootdisk.com; download a '98SE bootdisk image there (get the one with cdrom drivers included). Save it a hard-drive; expand image to a single floppy. Use that floppy to preconfigure etc. the drive in question.
At the least create both a Primary (for OS/apps/utils) and the Extended for data etc... You can preformat it as fat32 if you wish - and for domestic environs I can't see any real need to go to ntfs for XP... If you want it as ntfs then XP setup will allow the option to reformat the Primary accordingly... The extended can be reformatted later via XP Disk Admin tols - personally I'd leave data as fat32 - more recovery/access options in event of a crash...
An assortment of M$-KB Fdisk info is below...
(The first one is how to use it and also the format util.)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255867/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/263044/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327202/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327202/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/280737/en-us
0
Dude you need to run fdisk from DOS and create a valid fat partition. Then you will need to reboot and format that new partition. then you can install windows on the newly formated partition.
0
It's still insane to use 622, regardless of the (lame) reason - a case of the wrong tool for the wrong job
Depending on the drive's original partitioning, structure & size you might be able to use Win9x/ME fdisk and format - although I would think that any recent distro of Linux would have its own disk management tools as well
... I hear Computing.Net has an actual Linux forum
Saying that XP is the most stable MS OS is like saying that asparagus is the most articulate vegetable
0
One can certainly use the '98/ME bootdisk to preconfigure (preformat too as fat32) to advantage... (even if wanting the Primary - and even data too as ntfs). At the least one creates the Primary regardless of approach and the Extended can be either be preconfigured via '98/ME boodisk, or via Admin Tools later. But to use the dos6x. version is clearly inadequate.
I tend to favour using the '99/ME version to preconfigure a drive - rather than use the W2K/XP setup options; but I know many are happy to ignore the '98/ME appraoch and go with the utils in W2K/XP
All a matter of preferences etc.
0
Ok let me get my 2 pennys in this.
The best all around bet for handling any formatting question or even chkdisc features is to actually go the harddrive manufacture's website and download the utillity disc for that drive...Using an older version 98 or dos program is just not the thing anymore for these newer, larger drives. The utillity disc can either be set up from a floppy or a bootable CD and is capable of completly wiping a drive (resetting to 0) repairing or formatting to any format and partitioning
In The Matters Of Style,
swim with the current;
in matters of principle,
Stand Like A Rock
0
"I'm trying to delete windows and install ubuntu"
Ubuntu CD includes partition/format tools so why bother with a boot disk, why not post in the Linux forum?
If you insist on using DOS then KillDisk is the tool to use to rid windows:
http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm
0
Jesus tits, girls.
10 replies, chokablok with "information", and not a word about where this is attempting to go.
Maybe lalaland.
=====================================
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
0
Mechanix2Go=Thank you for the LOL.
Uhhh!You said"Jesus tits.
You could have used manamana.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC9FtLQJoGM
0
Try a madboot disk. Or 1 of these others.
http://www.madboot.com/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=28
0
I'll ask. If you don't have a Window's XP cd then how would you get the OS on the system?
Any live linux CD will not only partition it but format it and make it bootable active. Consider knoppix or many others. If you had ubuntu then they even have a live cd.
If it is a thinkpad then you should have the original CD/DVD's to restore it.
0  |
 |
 |
This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.
| Ads by Google |
