Microsoft KB Archive/76802

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

PD0466: How Do I Repartition My Hard Disk into One Partition?
Last reviewed: May 1, 1997

Article ID: Q76802

5.00 MS-DOS kbref kbdisplay kbfile kbappnote

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft MS-DOS operating system version 5.0

Microsoft has an Application Note titled &quot;How do I repartition my hard disk into one partition?&quot; (PD0466) available. This Application Note provides detailed instructions about how to combine multiple hard disk partitions into one large partition when you upgrade to MS-DOS version 5.0. You can obtain this Application Note from the following sources:

You can obtain this Application Note from the following sources:


 * Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet
 * The Internet (Microsoft anonymous ftp server)
 * Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)
 * Microsoft FastTips Technical Library
 * Microsoft Product Support Services

For complete information, see the &quot;To Obtain This Application Note&quot; section at the end of this article.

THE TEXT OF PD0466
Microsoft Product Support Services Application Note (Text File) PD0466: HOW DO I REPARTITION MY HARD DISK INTO ONE PARTITION? Revision Date: 9/91 No Disk Included The following information applies to Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade.


 * INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT AND ANY SOFTWARE THAT MAY   |
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 * conditions: 1) All text must be copied without modification and   |
 * all pages must be included; 2) If software is included, all files |
 * on the disk(s) must be copied without modification [the MS-DOS(R) |
 * utility DISKCOPY is appropriate for this purpose]; 3) All         |
 * components of this Application Note must be distributed together; |
 * and 4) This Application Note may not be distributed for profit.   |
 * Copyright 1991 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.        |
 * Microsoft, MS-DOS, and the Microsoft logo are registered          |
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 * trademarks and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.   |

DO YOU NEED TO REPARTITION?
In most cases you don't need to repartition your hard disk to install MS-DOS 5.0. You need to repartition your hard disk only if:


 * The primary DOS partition on your hard disk is too small (less than 2.86 MB).
 * The size of the clusters or sectors on your hard disk is incompatible with MS-DOS 5.0.
 * There are more than four primary partitions on your hard disk.
 * The primary DOS partition is inaccessible.
 * A disk-partitioning program that is not compatible with Setup was used to partition your hard disk.
 * Your primary DOS partition is incompatible with Setup.

If you don't need to repartition your hard disk but want to do it anyway, you can repartition it as you upgrade your system to MS-DOS 5.0. You can also repartition your hard disk after you upgrade your system.

Keep in mind that if you repartition your hard disk, you will not be able to restore your original DOS by using your Uninstall disk.

Warning: If you are using software such as Disk Manager, SpeedStor, Priam, or Everex to replace the BIOS in interactions between DOS and the hard disk controller, do not repartition your hard disk with the MS-DOS fdisk command. For example, you might be using SpeedStor on a computer with more than 1024 cylinders. In such a case, you should not carry out the following procedures. Instead, use the disk-partitioning program you originally used to partition your hard disk. To determine whether you have one of these disk-partitioning programs on your computer, search for the following files: DMDRVR.BIN (Disk Manager), SSTOR.SYS (SpeedStor), HARDRIVE.SYS (Priam), and EVDISK.SYS (Everex). If you need help in repartitioning your hard disk or are unsure whether the BIOS is being replaced, contact the manufacturer of your original disk-partitioning software.

PREPARING TO REPARTITION
Before you begin this procedure, you will need the following:


 * Enough floppy disks to back up your hard disk.
 * Floppy disks on which to install MS-DOS 5.0. If you have 5.25-inch MS-DOS 5.0 Upgrade disks, you'll need seven floppy disks. If you have 3.5-inch Upgrade disks, you'll need four floppy disks. Make sure your disks are newly formatted.

Repartitioning your hard disk involves:


 * Installing MS-DOS 5.0 on floppy disks.
 * Backing up your hard disk.
 * Repartitioning your hard disk by using the FDISK program.
 * Formatting your hard disk.
 * Restoring your backed-up files.
 * Upgrading your system to MS-DOS version 5.0.

INSTALLING MS-DOS ON FLOPPY DISKS
Begin by installing MS-DOS 5.0 on floppy disks, if you haven't already done so. To install MS-DOS on floppy disks:

 Start your computer with your current version of DOS. Insert MS-DOS installation Disk 1 in drive A.  Type &quot;a:setup /f&quot; (without the quotation marks) and follow the instructions on your screen. Setup will expand files on your installation disks and copy them to the floppy disks you provide. The disks that hold the expanded files are the ones you'll use to temporarily run MS-DOS 5.0. 

BACKING UP YOUR FILES
The next step is to back up your files.

Warning: Make sure you back up your files before using FDISK. When you delete or modify a partition, all files on that partition are deleted. To back up your files:

 If you are not already running MS-DOS 5.0, insert your Startup or Startup/Support disk in drive A. Then restart your computer by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL. If you are using 5.25-inch disks, insert the Utility disk in drive A. If you are using 3.5-inch disks, insert the Basic/Edit/Utility disk in drive A.  Use the BACKUP command to back up files on your hard disk. For example, to back up every file in every directory on drive C onto disks in drive A, you would type the following: backup c:\ a: /s The /S switch specifies that every file in every directory will be backed up. Note: Use the BACKUP command to back up files on every partition and each logical drive of your hard disk. You can also use a backup program such as FASTBACK. 

REPARTITIONING YOUR HARD DISK
After you back up your hard disk, the next step is to repartition it. Repartitioning your hard disk involves:


 * Deleting any non-DOS partitions.
 * Deleting the logical drives in the extended DOS partition, if your system has any.
 * Deleting the extended DOS partition, if your system has one.
 * Deleting any primary DOS partitions.
 * Creating a new primary DOS partition.
 * Specifying the maximum disk size for the partition, and making the partition active.

To Repartition Your Hard Disk:
 If you are not already running MS-DOS 5.0, insert your Startup or Startup/Support disk in drive A. Then restart your computer by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL.</li> If you are using 5.25-inch disks, insert the Support disk in drive A. If you are using 3.5-inch disks, make sure the Startup/Support disk is in drive A.</li>  Type &quot;fdisk&quot; (without the quotation marks) at the command prompt. The FDISK Options screen appears: |                          MS-DOS Version 5.00                      | </li>  Press 3 to choose Delete partition or logical DOS drive, and then press ENTER. The Delete DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive screen appears: |              Delete DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive            | </li>  If one of your partitions was not created with DOS, press 4 to choose Delete non-DOS partition, and then press ENTER. If your partitions were created by using DOS, skip to step 11 of this procedure. If you chose option 4, the Delete Non-DOS Partition screen appears: |                       Delete Non-DOS Partition                    | </li> Type the number of the partition you want to delete, and then press ENTER.</li> To confirm the deletion, press Y, and then press ENTER.</li> Press ESC to return to the FDISK Options screen (illustrated earlier in this procedure).</li> Repeat steps 4 through 8 if you have any other partitions that weren't created by using DOS.</li> The FDISK Options menu should be on your screen. If you have a partition that was created by using DOS, press 3 to choose Delete partition or logical DOS drive, and then press ENTER. If you have just one non-DOS partition, skip to step 22 in this procedure. If you chose option 3 on the FDISK Options screen, the Delete DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive screen (illustrated earlier in this procedure) appears.</li>  If you have a logical drive, press 3 to choose Delete logical DOS drive(s) in the extended DOS partition, and then press ENTER. If you don't have a logical drive, skip to step 19 in this procedure. If you chose option 3, the Delete Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition screen appears: |      Delete Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition    | </li> Type the letter of the drive you want to delete, and then press ENTER.</li> Type the volume label if there is one, and then press ENTER.</li> To confirm the deletion, press Y, and then press ENTER.</li> If there are other logical drives you want to delete, repeat steps 12-14 above.</li> <li>When all logical drives have been deleted, press ESC. An information screen appears.</li> <li>Press ESC again to return to the FDISK Options screen (illustrated earlier in this procedure).</li> <li>Press 3 to choose Delete partition or logical DOS drive, and then press ENTER. The Delete DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive screen (illustrated earlier in this procedure) appears.</li> <li> Press 2 to choose Delete extended DOS partition, and then press ENTER. The Delete Extended DOS Partition screen appears: |                    Delete Extended DOS Partition                  | </li> <li>To confirm that you want to delete the extended DOS partition, press Y, and then press ENTER.</li> <li>Press ESC to return to the FDISK Options screen (illustrated earlier in this procedure).</li> <li>Press 3 to choose Delete Partition or Logical DOS Drive, and then press ENTER. The Delete DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive screen (illustrated earlier in this procedure) appears.</li> <li> Press 1 to choose Delete primary DOS partition, and then press ENTER. The Delete Primary DOS Partition screen appears: |                     Delete Primary DOS Partition                  | </li> <li>Press ENTER to delete your primary partition.</li> <li>Type the volume label if there is one, and the press ENTER.</li> <li>To confirm the deletion, press Y, and then press ENTER.</li> <li>Press ESC to return to the FDISK Options screen (illustrated earlier in this procedure).</li> <li> Press ENTER to choose Create a DOS partition or logical DOS drive. The Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive screen appears: |              Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive            | </li> <li> Press ENTER to choose Create Primary DOS Partition. The Create Primary DOS Partition screen appears: |                     Create Primary DOS Partition                  | </li> <li>Press ENTER to specify the maximum size for the partition, and make the partition active.</li> <li>Make sure your Startup or Startup/Support disk is in drive A, and press any key.</li></ol>
 * Fixed Disk Setup Program                   |
 * (C)Copyright Microsoft Corp. 1983-1991            |
 * FDISK Options                         |
 * Current fixed disk drive: 1                                        |
 * Choose one of the following:                                       |
 * 1. Create DOS partition or logical DOS drive                       |
 * 2. Set active partition                                            |
 * 3. Delete partition or logical DOS drive                           |
 * 4. Display partition information                                   |
 * Enter choice: [1]                                                  |
 * Press Esc to exit FDISK                                            |
 * 4. Display partition information                                   |
 * Enter choice: [1]                                                  |
 * Press Esc to exit FDISK                                            |
 * Press Esc to exit FDISK                                            |
 * Press Esc to exit FDISK                                            |
 * Current fixed disk drive: 1                                        |
 * Choose one of the following:                                       |
 * 1. Delete primary DOS partition                                    |
 * 2. Delete extended DOS partition                                   |
 * 3. Delete logical DOS drive(s) in the extended DOS partition       |
 * 4. Delete non-DOS partition                                        |
 * Enter choice: [ ]                                                  |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * 4. Delete non-DOS partition                                        |
 * Enter choice: [ ]                                                  |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Current fixed disk drive: 1                                        |
 * Partition Status  Type   Volume label  Mbytes System Usage         |
 * C: 1        A    PRI DOS                  23  FAT16  33%           |
 * 2             Non-DOS                  23         33%           |
 * 3             EXT DOS                  23         33%           |
 * Total disk space is 69 Mbytes (1 Mbyte=1048576 bytes)              |
 * WARNING! Data in the deleted non-DOS partition will be lost.       |
 * What non-DOS partition do you want to delete..? [1]                |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * WARNING! Data in the deleted non-DOS partition will be lost.       |
 * What non-DOS partition do you want to delete..? [1]                |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Drv Volume  Label  Mbytes  System Usage                            |
 * D:                     15  FAT12    65%                            |
 * E:                      8  FAT12    35%                            |
 * Total extended DOS partition size is 23 Mbytes (1 Mbyte=1048576    |
 * bytes)                                                             |
 * WARNING! Data in a deleted logical DOS drive will be lost.         |
 * What drive do you want to delete.........................? [ ]     |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * WARNING! Data in a deleted logical DOS drive will be lost.         |
 * What drive do you want to delete.........................? [ ]     |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Current fixed disk drive: 1                                        |
 * Partition Status    Type    Volume Label  Mbytes  System  Usage    |
 * C: 1         A     PRI DOS                  23    FAT16     33%    |
 * 2               EXT DOS                  23              33%    |
 * Total disk space is 69 Mbytes (1 Mbyte=1048576 bytes)              |
 * WARNING! Data in the deleted extended DOS partition will be lost.  |
 * Do you wish to continue (Y/N)........................? [N]         |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * WARNING! Data in the deleted extended DOS partition will be lost.  |
 * Do you wish to continue (Y/N)........................? [N]         |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Current fixed disk drive: 1                                        |
 * Partition Status    Type    Volume Label  Mbytes  System  Usage    |
 * C: 1         A     PRI DOS                  23    FAT16     33%    |
 * Total disk space is 69 Mbytes (1 Mbyte=1048576 bytes)              |
 * WARNING! Data in the deleted primary DOS partition will be lost.   |
 * What primary partition do you want to delete..? [1]                |
 * Enter volume label...............................? [          ]    |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * WARNING! Data in the deleted primary DOS partition will be lost.   |
 * What primary partition do you want to delete..? [1]                |
 * Enter volume label...............................? [          ]    |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Current fixed disk drive: 1                                        |
 * Choose one of the following:                                       |
 * 1. Create primary DOS partition                                    |
 * 2. Create extended DOS partition                                   |
 * 3. Create logical DOS drive(s) in the extended DOS partition       |
 * Enter choice: [1]                                                  |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * 3. Create logical DOS drive(s) in the extended DOS partition       |
 * Enter choice: [1]                                                  |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Current fixed disk drive: 1                                        |
 * Do you wish to use the maximum available size for a primary DOS    |
 * partition and make the partition active (Y/N).................?[Y] |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * partition and make the partition active (Y/N).................?[Y] |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |
 * Press Esc to return to FDISK Options                               |

FORMATTING YOUR HARD DISK
You cannot use your hard disk until you format it. To format your hard disk:

<ol> <li>Make sure you are running MS-DOS 5.0 from your Startup or Startup/Support disk.</li> <li> At the command prompt, type the following: format c: </li> <li>Press Y, and then press ENTER, to proceed with formatting.</li> <li>Once formatting is complete, type a volume label if you want one, and then press ENTER.</li></ol>

RESTORING YOUR FILES
The next step is to restore your files. To restore your files:

<ol> <li>If you are using 5.25-inch disks, insert the Utility disk in drive A. If you are using 3.5-inch disks, insert the Basic/Edit/Utility disk in drive A.</li> <li> Type the following at the command prompt: restore drive1: c:\*.* /s The parameter specifies the drive on which the backed-up files are stored. For example, if you insert your backup disk in drive A, you would type the following: restore a: c:\*.* /s The /S switch restores every file in every subdirectory you backed up. You can also restore your files with the backup program (such as FASTBACK) you used to back up your files. </li> <li> Insert your startup disk if prompted with the following message: Insert disk with \COMMAND.COM in drive A </li> <li>Repeat steps 2 and 3 if you have other backup disks. For example, you might have a backup disk for drive D.</li></ol>

UPGRADING TO MS-DOS 5.0
The next step is to upgrade your system to MS-DOS version 5.0. To upgrade to MS-DOS 5.0:


 * 1) Make sure you are running MS-DOS 5.0 from your Startup or Startup/Support disk.
 * 2) Insert Disk 1 (the first of your installation disks) in drive A.
 * 3) Type &quot;a:setup&quot; (without the quotation marks) at the command prompt.
 * 4) Follow the instructions for installing MS-DOS.
 * 5) Before you restart your system, make sure drive A is empty.

RELATED INFORMATION
For more information about partitions, see page 147 of the &quot;Microsoft MS- DOS User's Guide and Reference.&quot;

TO OBTAIN THIS APPLICATION NOTE
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