reformating and fdisking help

  • Thread starter Thread starter Loretta
  • Start date Start date
How to Uninstall Windows XP and Revert to a Previous Operating System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303661

How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition a Hard
Disk
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;255867

1. Delete the Windows XP partition.
2. Create a new partition.
3. Format the new partition FAT32.
4. Install your desired Operating System.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


| Is it possible to fdisk and reformat a ntfs file system and put on Win 98se.
|
| --
| Loretta
 
You can try but it has been my experience that you will
need to first delete the ntfs file system by using a
program like Partion Magic then you can fdisk and install.
 
Sorry but that is not correct - Win98 will not install or
run on an NTFS partition. Period.
 
Carey Frisch said:
1. Delete the Windows XP partition.
2. Create a new partition.
3. Format the new partition FAT32.
Click to expand...

Nitpick: You decide what file system to use when you create the
partition, not when you format it.
 
krayzeemynd said:
All Windows 98 programs were designed for the FAT32 format. NTFS is for Windows NT 4.0 and 5.0 (Windows 2000). Sorry!
Click to expand...

Not very well expressed. Win98 supports the FAT32 file system and not
the NTFS file system (although third-party programs are available that
enable Win98 to use NTFS partitions). "Win98 programs" rarely are
aware of what file system is installed, and the same program that runs
on Win98 with the FAT32 file system installed will be perfectly happy
on WinXP with either FAT32 or NTFS.
 
MGGP said:
Sorry but that is not correct - Win98 will not install or
run on an NTFS partition. Period.
Click to expand...

Right, you would have to use Fdisk to delete the NTFS partition(s),
then create new FAT32 partition(s), then install Win98. Deleting a
partition destroys all data on that partition.
 
How to Uninstall Windows XP and Revert to a Previous Operating System
http://microscum.com/mmpafaq/

How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition
a Hard Disk
http://microscum.com/mmpafaq/

1. Delete the Windows XP partition.
2. Create a new partition.
3. Format the new partition FAT32.
4. Install your desired Operating System.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://microscum.com/mmpafaq/
 
In
MeSnowStalker said:
You can try but it has been my experience that you will
need to first delete the ntfs file system by using a
program like Partion Magic then you can fdisk and install.
Click to expand...


Yes, you have to first delete the NTFS partition, but no you
don't need a third-party program to do it. FDISK can handle this.
 
In
krayzeemynd said:
All Windows 98 programs were designed for the FAT32 format.
Click to expand...



Not quite. Yes, Windows 98 needs to run on one of the FAT file
systems, not NTFS. But it doesn't have to be FAT32. Although
FAT32 is normally preferable to FAT16, FAT16 will work without a
problem.
 
Uhhh......... please re-read the original question. The op wanted to know if
they can fdisk and format a partition that is using ntfs file system. You
sure can, the file system does not matter to fdisk or format. It will do it
no matter what the file system is. No one said anything about installing
win98 on ntfs, as we all know you can't do that.
 
-----Original Message-----
How to Uninstall Windows XP and Revert to a Previous Operating System
http://microscum.com/mmpafaq/

How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition
a Hard Disk
http://microscum.com/mmpafaq/

1. Delete the Windows XP partition.
2. Create a new partition.
3. Format the new partition FAT32.
4. Install your desired Operating System.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://microscum.com/mmpafaq/

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

and put on Win
98se.

.
Click to expand...
 
Strange occurances at m.p.wXP.g:

Kurt gives links to Kelly's site.

Carey gives links to Kurt's site.

What's next?

FWIW - I have noticed the recently improved quality and care exhibited
by Carey. Keep it up!

Steve
 
Loretta said:
Is it possible to fdisk and reformat a ntfs file system and put on Win 98se.
Click to expand...

Yes. From the Win98 startup floppy run FDISK (Y to 'Large disk
support?') and start off by deleting the 'non-DOS partition' - then make
a DOS primary one, reboot to Format C: and take it from there
 
Phil said:
Uhhh......... please re-read the original question. The op wanted to
know if they can fdisk and format a partition that is using ntfs file
system. You sure can, the file system does not matter to fdisk or
format. It will do it no matter what the file system is. No one said
anything about installing win98 on ntfs, as we all know you can't do
that.
Click to expand...

FDISK can only delete a non-dos drive or partition, and FORMAT from a floppy
disk cannot even see NTFS files or format them.
The XP CD recovery console would use diskpart and format and fit your
description.

--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
Michael said:
FDISK can only delete a non-dos drive or partition, and FORMAT from a
floppy disk cannot even see NTFS files or format them.
The XP CD recovery console would use diskpart and format and fit your
description.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what your point is here. Fdisk can delete a partiton using
ntfs, a non-dos partition. Then you use fdisk to create a new partition,
then you use the same win9x floppy boot disk and run format on that
partition. Not sure what your trying to say here.
 
Phil said:
I'm not sure what your point is here. Fdisk can delete a partiton
using ntfs, a non-dos partition. Then you use fdisk to create a new
partition, then you use the same win9x floppy boot disk and run
format on that partition. Not sure what your trying to say here.
Click to expand...

The point was that the file system does matter using FDISK.
Click on or copy and paste the link below into your web browser address box.
Remove XP and install 98/Me
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#how5
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
Michael said:
The point was that the file system does matter using FDISK.
Click on or copy and paste the link below into your web browser
address box. Remove XP and install 98/Me
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#how5
Click to expand...

How does the file system matter? Fdisk will delete any partition you tell it
too no matter what file system is on that partition. Fdisk does not care. If
the drive is ntfs, you boot to the win9x floppy, run fdisk, delete the
partition, create a new partiton, reboot to floppy and format. I've done
this a zillion times. That's exactly what your instructions from your site
says.
Below is right from your site. It's exactly what I've been saying. I don't
see what the problem is here. I don't understand why people feel the need to
correct someone when we're saying the same thing.
1.. Boot from Startup Disk.
2.. Load FDISK by typing "fdisk.exe" at the "A" prompt without the quotes.
3.. Say yes to large disk support <Y-N>...........? [Y] ENTER
4.. Enter choice #3 to "Delete partition or Logical Dos Drive" Press ESC
to return to FDISK options
5.. Enter #4 to "Delete Non-DOS Partition". Select the Non-DOS partition
by typing the number and then ENTER. Press ESC to return to FDISK options.
Note you cannot delete a NON-DOS partition located inside an Extended
partition. You can use the DOS utility called delpart from a DOS boot up.
6.. Reboot with startup disk and load FDISK.
7.. Say yes to Large disk support as above.
8.. Enter choice #1 Press ESC to return to FDISK options
9.. When asked if you want to use the maximum size for the partition and
make it active, type Y if you want to use the whole drive, or N if you want
to set a maximum size for the partition.
10.. After accepting the max size or setting the size, reboot.
11.. To install another OS; reboot: Type format X: at the A: prompt;
where X is the drive/partition letter designation.
12.. Insert your Win 98/Me CD.
13.. Reboot from boot disk with CD-Rom support.
14.. Type sys c:
15.. Type X: for CD drive location where X is the CD drive location.
16.. Type setup.exe
17.. Follow setup prompts
 
Phil said:
Michael said:
The point was that the file system does matter using FDISK.
Click on or copy and paste the link below into your web browser
address box. Remove XP and install 98/Me
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#how5
Click to expand...

How does the file system matter? Fdisk will delete any partition you
tell it too no matter what file system is on that partition. Fdisk
does not care. If the drive is ntfs, you boot to the win9x floppy,
run fdisk, delete the partition, create a new partiton, reboot to
floppy and format. I've done this a zillion times. That's exactly
what your instructions from your site says.
Below is right from your site. It's exactly what I've been saying. I
don't see what the problem is here. I don't understand why people
feel the need to correct someone when we're saying the same thing.
1.. Boot from Startup Disk.
2.. Load FDISK by typing "fdisk.exe" at the "A" prompt without the
quotes.
3.. Say yes to large disk support <Y-N>...........? [Y] ENTER
4.. Enter choice #3 to "Delete partition or Logical Dos Drive"
Press ESC to return to FDISK options
5.. Enter #4 to "Delete Non-DOS Partition". Select the Non-DOS
partition by typing the number and then ENTER. Press ESC to return to
FDISK options. Note you cannot delete a NON-DOS partition located
inside an Extended partition. You can use the DOS utility called
delpart from a DOS boot up.
6.. Reboot with startup disk and load FDISK.
7.. Say yes to Large disk support as above.
8.. Enter choice #1 Press ESC to return to FDISK options
9.. When asked if you want to use the maximum size for the partition
and make it active, type Y if you want to use the whole drive, or N
if you want to set a maximum size for the partition.
10.. After accepting the max size or setting the size, reboot.
11.. To install another OS; reboot: Type format X: at the A:
prompt; where X is the drive/partition letter designation.
12.. Insert your Win 98/Me CD.
13.. Reboot from boot disk with CD-Rom support.
14.. Type sys c:
15.. Type X: for CD drive location where X is the CD drive location.
16.. Type setup.exe
17.. Follow setup prompts
Click to expand...

Phil,
Sorry, the intention was NOT to say you were wrong, but to clarify a point.
FDISK does not have the ability to do anything other than delete the NTFS
partition, and format from a Win98/Me floppy cannot see a NTFS partition.
Granted they are the tools for the task, but it could be misleading to say
the file system doesn't matter to FDISK and FORMAT from a 98/Me floppy.
I get corrected all the time and try to learn from it. 8-) That is what peer
support newsgroups are all about.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
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