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Formatting FAT32 Partitions in MS-DOS
(Windows 9x/ME)
Written by Joshua Drake (jd-inflames)
Definitions you should know::
MS-DOS = Microsoft Disc Operating System: Pretty much just a one file
operating system (COMMAND.COM). The only part of DOS needed
in the A+ curriculum is what is included on the Windows 9x/ME
boot diskette and a few items that are installed with your
Windows operating system.
FAT32 = File Allocation Table 32-bit: In the old days of DOS - Windows
ME, the file systems used were called FAT. There are FAT, FAT16,
and FAT32. The file systems got progressively better over time.
All that you really need to know is that you format Windows 9x/ME
partitions with this system.
Partition = Partitions are how you divide your drive space. Instead of
having one large hard drive, lets say for example's sake a
10GB hard drive, instead of having a C drive (main drive)
being 10GB, you can have two hard drives being whatever size
you want them to be as long as you take up all of your available
space. You can make as many partitions as you want, you just
have to make sure to use up 100% of your available space.
Format = When you format a partition, all you are really doing is installing
a file system. Heres a quick tip, you wont see a hard drive
registering in any operating system until you format it.
Commands you should know::
These are the commands and proper way to use of every command you will be
using in this lesson:
fdisk = fdisk (Be sure that you are in your A:\ drive in command line)
fdisk command brings you into your partitioning tool on your boot disk.
fdisk will NOT read NTFS drives. Instead, it will tell you that you have
a virus on your machine.
format = format C: /s (C is the drive being formatted. Replace C: with the
drive letter of the drive that you are formatting. /s is optional,
that command simply copies COMMAND.COM to your C:\ drive so that
your hard drive is bootable.
dir = dir (/p = directory list page view)
The dir command is just used to view what is on that drive or folder. You
wont necessarily need it for this lesson.
Lesson 1:
In order to complete this lesson, you will need a Windows 9x/ME bootable diskette.
They come with the operating system, or you can make your own by inserting a
blank floppy into a pre-installed Windows 9x/ME machine. What you need to do to
go into control panel, Start <> Settings <> Control Panel, and go to Add/Remove
Programs. The last tab in this menu is what you need. I believe it is "Create
Startup Disk". I'm not sure because I'm running off memory, but it is something
like that. When you click on that tab, you simply click the button in the menu and
let it make the diskette for you. It is also best to have another machine to work on
so that you can browse this guide while operating.
Now that you have your bootable floppy disk, insert it into your floppy drive and
start up your computer. If your computer doesn't automatically start booting to the
floppy, scroll down past this section of the lesson for me to help teach you how to
make it work. When your computer boots to this floppy, it should bring up a timed
option to either start your computer with CD-ROM support, or without it. For this
lesson, it doesn't really matter which you select due to the fact that we wont be
using any CD's, but without is faster to load, so I will suggest that.
After your computer is done loading, it will look like this:
<A:\>_
When you get there, type the new command you learned, fdisk, and press enter.
The first thing it will ask you is if you would like to enable large hard drive
support. If your hard drive is larger than 2GB, you should just press enter.
If it is smaller, type "N" and press enter. Now you are at the main menu. The
last option, 4:, will display all current partitions. Hit ESC to escape after
you are done checking if you have any partitions. If you have any partitions
installed, go to the third option to delete partitions. If you pressed 3, you
should now be at a menu to delete either a primary, extended, or logical partition.
Your C: Drive is by defualt a primary partition. For this lesson, lets say you only
have the one partition. In the delete partition menu, type 1 and enter to delete
your primary partition. Now that you are in here, just type the drive letter of the
partition, then you will need to type the volume label. The volume label is listed
in your list of partitions above. Now that you are past that, you need to type Y to
confirm the delete and your almost done. Press ESC to get you to the main menu.
Now, you need to go into the first menu to create a new primary partition. By
entering this menu, it should automatically begin making the partition. It will
ask you in the middle of the process if you want to use maximum space. If you are
wanting to install multiple partitions, type N for no and then type in amount of space
in MB or % of the drive you want to use. After the partition is made, make sure that
the partition is set active. You can do this by viewing the partitions (fourth menu).
Now, there should be a column in this display that says status, and if there is an
A in this column for you C drive, then you are fine and may continue. If there isn't
one, you need to go to the main menu and choose the second option, Set Active
Partition. After the partition is made and set active, continue hitting ESC until
your machine leaves fdisk. Now, for your partition settings to be set, you need to
restart.
Now that your computer is back on and you are at the A:\>_ again, type "format c:"
and be sure to type Y to confirm the action. This process might take a while, pending
on the size of your drive, but once it is finished, you are ready to install your
new operating system.
If your comuputer wouldn't boot to the floppy, this is probebly because your boot
order isn't set right in BIOS. To enter BIOS is different with some computer models,
so just pay attention when booting your computer, because the setup key will show
then. In BIOS, look around for boot options, and when you find it, make sure that
your floppy is first in line. I'm sorry I can't help more in this area, but there
are hundreds of different styles of BIOS and I can't make walkthroughs for all of
them.
Well, this is the last of my old BloodTech.com collection. Hope that helps a few beginners.
(Windows 9x/ME)
Written by Joshua Drake (jd-inflames)
Definitions you should know::
MS-DOS = Microsoft Disc Operating System: Pretty much just a one file
operating system (COMMAND.COM). The only part of DOS needed
in the A+ curriculum is what is included on the Windows 9x/ME
boot diskette and a few items that are installed with your
Windows operating system.
FAT32 = File Allocation Table 32-bit: In the old days of DOS - Windows
ME, the file systems used were called FAT. There are FAT, FAT16,
and FAT32. The file systems got progressively better over time.
All that you really need to know is that you format Windows 9x/ME
partitions with this system.
Partition = Partitions are how you divide your drive space. Instead of
having one large hard drive, lets say for example's sake a
10GB hard drive, instead of having a C drive (main drive)
being 10GB, you can have two hard drives being whatever size
you want them to be as long as you take up all of your available
space. You can make as many partitions as you want, you just
have to make sure to use up 100% of your available space.
Format = When you format a partition, all you are really doing is installing
a file system. Heres a quick tip, you wont see a hard drive
registering in any operating system until you format it.
Commands you should know::
These are the commands and proper way to use of every command you will be
using in this lesson:
fdisk = fdisk (Be sure that you are in your A:\ drive in command line)
fdisk command brings you into your partitioning tool on your boot disk.
fdisk will NOT read NTFS drives. Instead, it will tell you that you have
a virus on your machine.
format = format C: /s (C is the drive being formatted. Replace C: with the
drive letter of the drive that you are formatting. /s is optional,
that command simply copies COMMAND.COM to your C:\ drive so that
your hard drive is bootable.
dir = dir (/p = directory list page view)
The dir command is just used to view what is on that drive or folder. You
wont necessarily need it for this lesson.
Lesson 1:
In order to complete this lesson, you will need a Windows 9x/ME bootable diskette.
They come with the operating system, or you can make your own by inserting a
blank floppy into a pre-installed Windows 9x/ME machine. What you need to do to
go into control panel, Start <> Settings <> Control Panel, and go to Add/Remove
Programs. The last tab in this menu is what you need. I believe it is "Create
Startup Disk". I'm not sure because I'm running off memory, but it is something
like that. When you click on that tab, you simply click the button in the menu and
let it make the diskette for you. It is also best to have another machine to work on
so that you can browse this guide while operating.
Now that you have your bootable floppy disk, insert it into your floppy drive and
start up your computer. If your computer doesn't automatically start booting to the
floppy, scroll down past this section of the lesson for me to help teach you how to
make it work. When your computer boots to this floppy, it should bring up a timed
option to either start your computer with CD-ROM support, or without it. For this
lesson, it doesn't really matter which you select due to the fact that we wont be
using any CD's, but without is faster to load, so I will suggest that.
After your computer is done loading, it will look like this:
<A:\>_
When you get there, type the new command you learned, fdisk, and press enter.
The first thing it will ask you is if you would like to enable large hard drive
support. If your hard drive is larger than 2GB, you should just press enter.
If it is smaller, type "N" and press enter. Now you are at the main menu. The
last option, 4:, will display all current partitions. Hit ESC to escape after
you are done checking if you have any partitions. If you have any partitions
installed, go to the third option to delete partitions. If you pressed 3, you
should now be at a menu to delete either a primary, extended, or logical partition.
Your C: Drive is by defualt a primary partition. For this lesson, lets say you only
have the one partition. In the delete partition menu, type 1 and enter to delete
your primary partition. Now that you are in here, just type the drive letter of the
partition, then you will need to type the volume label. The volume label is listed
in your list of partitions above. Now that you are past that, you need to type Y to
confirm the delete and your almost done. Press ESC to get you to the main menu.
Now, you need to go into the first menu to create a new primary partition. By
entering this menu, it should automatically begin making the partition. It will
ask you in the middle of the process if you want to use maximum space. If you are
wanting to install multiple partitions, type N for no and then type in amount of space
in MB or % of the drive you want to use. After the partition is made, make sure that
the partition is set active. You can do this by viewing the partitions (fourth menu).
Now, there should be a column in this display that says status, and if there is an
A in this column for you C drive, then you are fine and may continue. If there isn't
one, you need to go to the main menu and choose the second option, Set Active
Partition. After the partition is made and set active, continue hitting ESC until
your machine leaves fdisk. Now, for your partition settings to be set, you need to
restart.
Now that your computer is back on and you are at the A:\>_ again, type "format c:"
and be sure to type Y to confirm the action. This process might take a while, pending
on the size of your drive, but once it is finished, you are ready to install your
new operating system.
If your comuputer wouldn't boot to the floppy, this is probebly because your boot
order isn't set right in BIOS. To enter BIOS is different with some computer models,
so just pay attention when booting your computer, because the setup key will show
then. In BIOS, look around for boot options, and when you find it, make sure that
your floppy is first in line. I'm sorry I can't help more in this area, but there
are hundreds of different styles of BIOS and I can't make walkthroughs for all of
them.
Well, this is the last of my old BloodTech.com collection. Hope that helps a few beginners.
