Microsoft KB Archive/96847

= MS-DOS 6.0 Installation/Partitioning Sequence Q&A =

Article ID: 96847

Article Last Modified on 11/19/1999

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q96847



SUMMARY

 * 1) Q. How can I repartition my hard disk into one large partition?

A. Changing your hard disk from multiple partitions to a single partition involves backing up your data files, repartitioning your hard disk, and then restoring your data files. To do this, you must use the Fdisk program. The section titled &quot;Using Fdisk to Configure Your Hard Disk&quot; on pages 204-216 of the &quot;Microsoft MS-DOS 6 User's Guide&quot; contains instructions for repartitioning your hard disk. For specific instructions about backing up your data, repartitioning your hard disk, and restoring your data files, order Application Note PD0771, &quot;Installation and Partitioning Sequence Questions & Answers,&quot; from Microsoft Product Support Services.
 * 1) Q. When I try to use DoubleSpace to compress drives, I receive the error &quot;Cannot load SMARTDrive with DoubleSpace.&quot; How can I correct this problem?

A. DoubleSpace is incompatible with versions of SMARTDrive earlier than version 4.1. If you are using an earlier version of SMARTDrive, DoubleSpace displays this error message. To correct this problem, make sure you are loading SMARTDRV.EXE version 4.1, which is included with MS-DOS 6.0.
 * 1) Q. I have a hard disk with more than 1024 cylinders. Is there a way to access and use the entire hard disk?

A. The MS-DOS 6 Upgrade uses the hardware BIOS to read and write to the hard disk drive. Due to the limitations of the standard ROM BIOS, MS-DOS accesses only the first 1024 cylinders of a physical hard disk. If you have formatted your hard disk after upgrading to MS-DOS 6 and the disk has less space available, consult your hardware manual or contact your hardware manufacturer for more information.
 * 1) Q. When I run the Fdisk program, it does not recognize all the disk space on my hard disk. What is causing this problem?

A. Fdisk relies on the BIOS to report the hard disk size. If Fdisk incorrectly reports that your hard disk is smaller than it actually is, either your BIOS is set for the wrong drive type (that is, it is set incorrectly or it does not support your specific drive's dimensions), or your drive has more than 1024 cylinders.

Contact your hardware manufacturer to determine if your BIOS is set correctly. If it is not, correcting the setting should allow Fdisk to recognize the entire hard disk. If your BIOS does not support your drive type, and your hard disk doesn't exceed 1024 cylinders, you may need to order a new BIOS from your hardware manufacturer. For more information, contact your hardware manufacturer.

Additional query words: 6.00 apd60

Keywords: kbinfo KB96847

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