I am trying to format my drive. Have done this before without problems. This time when partitioning the drive to fat32 it only reads 8025 Megs of my 20 Gig hard drive. I am capable of installing windows 95se but the drive size is very small. Can you please assist me?
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Formating Drive Win 98se
- Thread starter Barnabus
- Start date
Barnabus,
FAT32 is capable of recognizing drives up to 2 terabytes in capacity, so I don't think that this is the problem.
FAT32 is a filesystem, rather than a partition. Maybe you have that 20gb drive partitioned with a 8gb partition? Try running fdisk from a command prompt (just don't change anything).
Wishdiak
FAT32 is capable of recognizing drives up to 2 terabytes in capacity, so I don't think that this is the problem.
FAT32 is a filesystem, rather than a partition. Maybe you have that 20gb drive partitioned with a 8gb partition? Try running fdisk from a command prompt (just don't change anything).
Wishdiak
- Thread starter
- #3
Barnabus,
You could try to repartition the drive using fdisk so that it uses all 20gb, but you'll lose all of your data in the process. Your best bet it to partition the remaining 12gb as an extended partition. You'll have 2 drive letters after you format that second partition, but you shouldn't lose anything.
Wishdiak
You could try to repartition the drive using fdisk so that it uses all 20gb, but you'll lose all of your data in the process. Your best bet it to partition the remaining 12gb as an extended partition. You'll have 2 drive letters after you format that second partition, but you shouldn't lose anything.
Wishdiak
- Thread starter
- #5
How do I repartition the drive using fdisk so that it uses all 20gb? I am not worried about losing my data because I have backed it all up in my other computer. Additionally, you mentioned trying to run an fdisk from a command prompt (just don't change anything). I have been running the fdisk from the DOS mode, can you clarify for me what you mean "run an fdisk from a command prompt".
- Thread starter
- #6
Barnabus,
When you run fdisk and choose the option to display partition information, does it only 1 partition taking up 100% of the available space on the drive?
If so, this may be a problem with your BIOS and not with your partitioning.
Wishdiak
When you run fdisk and choose the option to display partition information, does it only 1 partition taking up 100% of the available space on the drive?
If so, this may be a problem with your BIOS and not with your partitioning.
Wishdiak
TekTippy4U
Technical User
Have done this before without problems
On that particular PC? with that particular HDD ? and that BIOS using the Same Install CD? and SAME HDD?
See if this helps;
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
On that particular PC? with that particular HDD ? and that BIOS using the Same Install CD? and SAME HDD?
See if this helps;
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
- Thread starter
- #9
Wishdiak,
Yes, fdisk only gives me 1 partition at 100% totaling 8025 Megs (8 Gigs). I went into the link that TekTippy4U sent and I'm not sure what I need to do. Are there simple steps that I can follow to correct this? If so, where do I get them?
Yes, fdisk only gives me 1 partition at 100% totaling 8025 Megs (8 Gigs). I went into the link that TekTippy4U sent and I'm not sure what I need to do. Are there simple steps that I can follow to correct this? If so, where do I get them?
- Thread starter
- #10
Barnabus,
It sounds like it is a problem with your BIOS, and the link that TekTippy4U provided explains why. Do you have your BIOS set up to automatically detect all IDE devices on startup?
If so, you may need to flash your BIOS, which is not a Windows problem at all.
Wishdiak
It sounds like it is a problem with your BIOS, and the link that TekTippy4U provided explains why. Do you have your BIOS set up to automatically detect all IDE devices on startup?
If so, you may need to flash your BIOS, which is not a Windows problem at all.
Wishdiak
TekTippy4U
Technical User
Post your system specs;
1] Also you could use a DDO (Dynamic Drive Overlay) not recommended.
2] Upgrade the BIOS
3] You could buy a PCI ATA Controller Card (~$40) to connect the drive to and also gain atleast two more IDE ports - recommended if necesary.
need to know System board and chipset and CPU ....Post the BIOS brand and version as well.
Use if necessary to get System info....post ALL except your private info no Names and CD Keys/Product ID #'s (their not necessary anyway)
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
1] Also you could use a DDO (Dynamic Drive Overlay) not recommended.
2] Upgrade the BIOS
3] You could buy a PCI ATA Controller Card (~$40) to connect the drive to and also gain atleast two more IDE ports - recommended if necesary.
need to know System board and chipset and CPU ....Post the BIOS brand and version as well.
Use if necessary to get System info....post ALL except your private info no Names and CD Keys/Product ID #'s (their not necessary anyway)
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
TekTippy4U
Technical User
ooops;
just realized the system isn't operational (so no belarc for now, anyway)
Make sure the IDE in BIOS is set to "Auto" for Primary Master (and all other IDEs only if you're using them - ala - Secondary Master=Auto for CDROM etc,....otherwise OFF is correct ....suggest only deal with those two..disconnect all other drives(Slaves). If the Secondary Master is a HDD, disconnect it.
well tell us what you can.
Have you done an install on "this" PC before?
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
just realized the system isn't operational (so no belarc for now, anyway)
Make sure the IDE in BIOS is set to "Auto" for Primary Master (and all other IDEs only if you're using them - ala - Secondary Master=Auto for CDROM etc,....otherwise OFF is correct ....suggest only deal with those two..disconnect all other drives(Slaves). If the Secondary Master is a HDD, disconnect it.
well tell us what you can.
Have you done an install on "this" PC before?
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
TekTippy4U
Technical User
One more thing;
Are you using a Win98 Boot Disk version of Fdisk? not 95 ver, I hope not......or
maybe you're using the 98SE CDROM which is fine - if it's an OEM....
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
Are you using a Win98 Boot Disk version of Fdisk? not 95 ver, I hope not......or
maybe you're using the 98SE CDROM which is fine - if it's an OEM....
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
- Thread starter
- #15
TekTippy4U,
Unfortunately I have been out of town for the last two days. I am very intersted in getting this computer going so please bare with me. The computer is a "Dell/Dimension XPS-P100c" (older computer). The chip was changed to clock it up to a speed of 233. Mind you it has been working good for the last three years. Of course I realize not a very fast computer but then again I use it mainly as a back up. How would I get the information needed to upgrade the BIOS? Should I contact Dell or can I get the information from the motherboard itself? Additionally, is there a site on the web that I can visit to get my upgrade for the BIOS?
Unfortunately I have been out of town for the last two days. I am very intersted in getting this computer going so please bare with me. The computer is a "Dell/Dimension XPS-P100c" (older computer). The chip was changed to clock it up to a speed of 233. Mind you it has been working good for the last three years. Of course I realize not a very fast computer but then again I use it mainly as a back up. How would I get the information needed to upgrade the BIOS? Should I contact Dell or can I get the information from the motherboard itself? Additionally, is there a site on the web that I can visit to get my upgrade for the BIOS?
TekTippy4U
Technical User
afraid you're SOL
that's too old for them to support.....you don't want a custom upgrade for ~$75 ..do you?
Gotta settle on 8.0 gigs ....if the system has PCI bus you could buy a PCI controller card (which has it's own BIOS onboard to read larger drives), as was mentioned. (~$40-50)
It seems you have 4 PCI slots
though the info here depicts a 100MHz system, it may be appropriate for detailed info on yours , since you say you upgraded the CPU to 233
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
that's too old for them to support.....you don't want a custom upgrade for ~$75 ..do you?
Gotta settle on 8.0 gigs ....if the system has PCI bus you could buy a PCI controller card (which has it's own BIOS onboard to read larger drives), as was mentioned. (~$40-50)
It seems you have 4 PCI slots
though the info here depicts a 100MHz system, it may be appropriate for detailed info on yours , since you say you upgraded the CPU to 233
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
- Thread starter
- #17
TekTippy4U
Technical User
You must have had DDO software....(#1 in my previous post)...such as Ontrack which enables large HDD support by manipulating the partition tables and fooling the BIOS
Does the BIOS recognize the full 20 Gigs?...if not....then either Ontrack again or PCI controller card
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
Does the BIOS recognize the full 20 Gigs?...if not....then either Ontrack again or PCI controller card
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
- Thread starter
- #19
TekTippy4U
Technical User
Trust me...you don't want it......unles you already have it and use , I suggest forget it, as it will cause many many more headaches if you'r e not used to it.
Get A PCI card...prolly the same $ or cheaper
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
Get A PCI card...prolly the same $ or cheaper
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
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