Microsoft KB Archive/69561

Select Error on 3.5-Inch Release of International MS-DOS 4.01 PSS ID Number: Q69561 Article last modified on 07-14-1993 PSS database name: O_MSDOS

4.01

MS-DOS

Summary:

The MS-DOS version 4.0x installation utility, Select, detects an unpartitioned or partially partitioned disk and asks you whether further partitioning is desired.

On the International releases of MS-DOS 4.01 in the 3.5-inch disk format, a disk layout error places FDISK.EXE on the Operating disk, rather than the Install disk. This causes SELECT.EXE to produce a fatal error if you choose the “Define your own partition sizes” menu option.

If either of the other options (“Let Select define partition sizes” or “Leave disk unchanged”) is chosen, SELECT.EXE continues the installation without error. When Select performs the partitioning itself, it uses partitioning code within the SELECT.EXE program and therefore, Select does not require that FDISK.EXE be present.

To correct this problem, delete MODE.COM from the Install disk (it is already on the Operating disk), and copy FDISK.EXE from the Operating disk to the Install disk. This produces the correct file organization so that Select can operate properly.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS version 4.01. This problem does not occur in later versions of MS-DOS.

Additional reference words: 4.01 noupd

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.