Topic: Missing drive space

[grt]

I have messed up my hard drive - fiddling about , installing multiple OSs . I have gone back and repartitioned the drive in three , all FAT32 sectors . When I tried to install Win98 it wouldn't let me format the main partition so I installed DOS6.0 first and then Win98 over the top . Windows now reports my 12GB windows partition as a 1.99GB MS-DOS partition and cannot see the other two partitions . I believe DOS can only see drives of less than 2GB but shouldn't installing windows have sorted that ?
Is there any way to get my drive space back without reformatting everything again ?

Thank You

 :brick: GRT :brick:

[Sandra]

I think you are correct about DOS only seeing 2gig as I believe thats the limit for FAT 16 although you said you formatted in FAT 32.
What size did you create your partitions at and which OSs did you try to multi boot with  

[grt]

I was dual booted Win98 and Linux , but I cleared linux and created three drives 12GB , 2.5GB and 0.5GB . I used CFDISK to create the partitions and designate them as FAT32 . I tried to setup Win98 but it wouldn't format the partition , so I used some old DOS disks to get it running and then upgraded to Win98 .

Maybe I should listen to my wife   They must make it like that for a reason , why don't you just use the computer instead of fiddling with it - it never works . :whistle:

GRT

[Sandra]

Ok, as far as I know, unless you are using an upgrade 98 cd to upgrade from 95 or 98 you have to install 98 to a bootable partition, if you just formatted it without the command C: /s then the 98 cd cant install to it.
I came into PCs too late to be involved in pure DOS setups but as I said before in agreement with you, 2 gig is the max size for FAT 16.
If you run Fdisk again what does that show your partitions as ?
If it still shows them as you set them up initially I would just do Format C: /S at the A: prompt and then do a clean install of 98 to that partition.
If somehow the partitions are showing differently then, unless someone has a better idea, I think you will have to delete and recreate your partitions and format again  

[grt]

 :brick: :brick: :brick:

I have just formatted using my XP rescue floppy  :brick:

Did you know Win98 doesn't work on NTFS :-[

It is just reformatting again with the 98 disk  :brick:

 

GRT

[Sandra]

Yes 95,98 and ME cant work with NTFS  
What did the partitions show as in Fdisk ?

[grt]

It looks like DOS had formatted the whole 15GB drive and then created its own 2GB partition in the corner - leaving the rest as empty space .

GRT

[Tony]

Maybe I should listen to my wife   They must make it like that for a reason , why don't you just use the computer instead of fiddling with it - it never works . :whistle:

GRT
 

I think all wives say that GRT, it like that in built desire they have to spend ....they just cannot help themselves.

Just FDISK it, delete that partition amd make one big partition. At the A prompt A:\>FORMAT C: /S after format complete

A:\>D: [assuming D is your CD_rom Drive] Insert your 98 CD
D:\> SETUP [press enter, and away you go]

Edit: if memory servers me right that is, been on W2K for a couple of years, and now on XP.  


edited to correct the missing space between : and / Tony