Microsoft KB Archive/68870

Location of Primary DOS Partition in MS-DOS 3.30 PSS ID Number: Q68870 Article last modified on 02-05-1993 PSS database name: O_MSDOS

3.30 3.30a

MS-DOS

Summary:

The documentation for the Fdisk command in MS-DOS version 3.30 states that the primary MS-DOS partition must be 32 megabytes (MB) or less in size. This is not, however, the only limitation on the primary partition.

The primary partition must not only be 32 MB or less, but must also be contained entirely within the first 32 MB region of the hard drive. For example, suppose the first 20 MB of a hard drive were used for a UNIX partition; FDISK would allow the primary MS-DOS partition to be 12 MB or less in size.

This can create problems for PC users of non-MS-DOS type partitions. If you have a 32 MB non-DOS partition at the beginning of your hard disk, Fdisk will not allow the creation of a primary MS-DOS partition. The only workaround to this problem is to remove the partition and then define an MS-DOS primary partition.

Additional reference words: 3.30, 3.30a noupd

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.