FDISK + Partitioning the Hard Disk

Serves as a menu-driven hard disk preparation program.

VERSION

PC-DOS 2.0+ (revised in 3.3)

MS-DOS equivalent: FDISK

TYPE

External

SYNTAX

[d:][path] FDISK

OPTIONS

[d:][path] Specifies the drive letter and path that

contain the FDISK command file.

You will see the following options on the FDISK menu:

1 Create DOS Partition

2 Change Active Partition

3 Delete DOS Partition

4 Display Partition Data

5 Select Next Fixed Disk Drive

You must use the FDISK command each time you start up a new

hard disk. It establishes the physical area of the disk that is

used by DOS (partitions the disk).

MESSAGES

All logical drives deleted in the

Extended DOS partition

No more logical drives are defined in the extended DOS partition.

You can delete the extended DOS partition if you no longer need

it for additional drives.

Cannot create extended DOS partition

without primary DOS partition on disk 1

You cannot have an extended DOS partition on disk 1 unless you

also have a primary DOS partition. Create a primary DOS partition

using FDISK, and leave sufficient space for the extended

partition.

Cannot delete extended DOS partition

while logical drives exist

As long as logical drives are defined in an extended DOS

partition, you cannot delete it. Use FDISK to delete all logical

drives in the extended partition.

Cannot run FDISK with network loaded

You cannot run this command while the network program is loaded.

Restart the machine and then run FDISK.

DOS partition already exists

DOS has already been set up on this hard disk.

Error reading fixed disk

FDISK was unable to read the hard disk. Reissue the FDISK

command. If the error message persists, consult your IBM Guide to

Operations (the Problem Determination section) or your dealer.

Extended DOS partition already exists

Use option 4 of the FDISK menu to display information about the

partitions that are already on the hard disk.

No Extended DOS partition to delete

Use option 4 of the FDISK menu to display information about the

partitions that are already on the hard disk.

No fixed disks present

Your system either does not have a hard disk, has a hard disk in

an expansion unit that is not turned on, or has an improperly

installed hard disk. Check to see that the expansion unit is

turned on, or reinstall your hard disk.

No logical drives defined

There are no logical drives that have been defined in the

extended DOS partition. Use FDISK to create a logical drive, and

then format the newly created drive by using the FORMAT command.

No partitions defined

There are no partitions that have been defined in the extended

DOS partition. Use FDISK to create a primary DOS partition, and

then format the drive by using the FORMAT command.

No partitions to delete

Use option 4 of the FDISK menu to display information about the

partitions that are already on the hard disk.

No partitions to make active

Use the Create DOS Partition option (1) to create a partition;

then use the Change Active Partition option (2) to make it

active.

No Primary DOS partition to delete

Use option 4 of the FDISK menu to display information about the

partitions that are already on the hard disk.

No space for a xxxx cylinder partition

You have entered a cylinder size that is larger than the amount

of free space. Enter a smaller number.

No space to create a DOS partition

Remove the existing partition or reduce its size. Then run FDISK

again.

No space to create logical drive

Use FDISK to delete an existing logical drive; then run FDISK

again to create the new logical drive.

Only non-bootable partitions exist

FDISK was requested to change the active partition, but none of

the other partitions can boot from the hard disk. Create a

bootable partition, such as the primary DOS partition.

Only partitions on Disk 1 can be

made active

The system uses the first hard disk to boot from. Use the FDISK

command to make a partition active so that the hard disk will

boot the system.

Partition selected (#) is not bootable,

active partition not changed

Use FDISK to select a bootable partition to be active.

Primary DOS partition already exists

You can have only one primary DOS partition on a hard disk. Use

option 4 on the FDISK menu to display information about the

partitions that are already on the hard disk.

NOTES

With FDISK you can choose to use the entire disk for DOS, or

you can allocate space on the hard disk to other operating

systems. In version 3.3 of PC-DOS you can also create extended

DOS partitions that can be further subdivided into logical

drives, such as drives D and E.

After you have used the FDISK command, use the SELECT

command to format the hard disk, copy the DOS commands from the

DOS disk to the hard disk, and specify the keyboard layout and

date/time formats you want to use. You can then boot directly

from the hard disk. lternatively, you can format the disk with

the FORMAT C:V command to transfer the system files and give a

volume label; then use the COPY command to copy the DOS commands

from the DOS floppy disk.)

If you are creating multiple partitions, you will be

prompted to specify the size of the partition; press Return to

accept the default, or enter any number that is less than the

maximum cylinder size you will see displayed at the bottom of the

screen. Likewise, when you are prompted for a starting cylinder

number, press Return for the default, or enter a cylinder number

based on the information displayed on the screen. For example, if

you chose 25 cylinders less than the maximum, you can start the

partition 25 cylinders further from the starting number on the

screen.

If you are creating multiple partitions and wish to make the

one you just created the active partition, you must select option

2. Option 3 deletes the DOS partition. If you select it, you will

be prompted through a process that deletes the DOS partition

along with all data files and programs it contains. Option 4

allows you to view that status of the partitions that exist on

the hard disk. Option 5 is designed to be used if you have a

second hard disk. It allows you to switch to that drive to

perform FDISK operations.

------------------------------------------------------------------

[For related topics, press R]