reformating and fdisking help

[Phil]

Phil wrote:
Michael Stevens wrote:
Phil wrote:
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.


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.

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.


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

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,
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. That is
what peer support newsgroups are all about.

I was just trying to keep the answer simple for the op. Adding to much
technical details usually just confuses them. Even if "technically" fdisk
does care about the file system the op really didn't need to know the
technical details. It sounded to me that the op thought you could not use
fdisk to delete a partition that was formatted in ntfs. And we all know that
isn't true, so that's what I told the op. Keeping it simple, all they need
to know is yes they can use fdisk. They don't need to know much else about
the technical details of file systems and fdisk. They just need to know if
it works or not. Many times I will go the extra step and explain in greater
detail, but that's only if I think the op is technically knowledgeable to
understand it. After reading the op's barely understandable question it was
clear this person needed a simple answer and nothing more. A simple, fdisk
will work, would have sufficed for this question. If I think the person is a
newbie or technically challanged I try to subscribe to KISS. (keep it simple
stupid). I do understand what your saying, I just didn't think the op wanted
or needed the extra technical details. If you wish to explain to the op
about the technical details of fdisk and file systems, hey that's great and
much appreciated. Hopefully they'll understand. I just wanted to answer
their question simply and move on. As you know there's a lot of work to do
in here. )