help !!!!

desperate lady

Anyone know how to run F disk from MSDOS command prompt......what to type?

Thanks

DiscoStu

er.... fdisk

desperate lady

Haven't got a clue what f disk is......think it's something to do with FAT32. This is the exact message when trying to format the c drive

'The drive may need to be partitioned. To create a partition on the drive run Fdisk from MSDOS command'
(the one whereyou get A:>) - but need the right command to get it to run.

It also says
'You may be using third-party partitionary software. If youare using this type of software, remove the emergency boot disk and restart computer'.......this doesn't work.

seamus

OK, what are you doing? Are you installing a new OS(and what OS are you installing), or a new harddisk?

And are you starting the comp with an emergency boot disk or with a new install disk?

And is there anything currently installed on the harddrive?

theciscokid

i thought it didn't work in xp, do you have xp?

desperate lady

Trying to reinstall windows 98.......starting comp with boot floppy but can't get to to Win 98 CD stage.....keep getting that message. I need to know what command to type.
Thanks

seamus

OK, when it dumps you at the floppy prompt (A:\>), type 'fdisk'. If that doesn't work, stick the cd in and reboot (and remove the floppy), if it says something like 'IDE0.....No boot record found' or something similar, and just freezes, you'll have to tell it to search the CD drive for a boot record...which we'll guide you through if needed

desperate lady

This may sound silly......when typing 'fdisk' .....should I use the punctuation marks? A pure novice at this.

We have the bios configured to start at A, Q (CD drive) C......should this be changed?

Not my pc.....but a friends.

Thanks

Bard

Originally posted by desperate lady
Haven't got a clue what f disk is......

[...]

A pure novice at this.

Then don't use it!

Seriously- if you don't know what FDISK is or how to use it, and you describe yourself as a 'pure novice', then don't even TRY to use FDISK!... You could do some serious damage!

Get someone who knows what they're doing to do the reinstall for you.

seamus

Nope, just type it without the punctuation marks

That boot sequence is fine. Try booting straight from the CD before fdisking, and it should do all the formatting for you, save you some confusion.

Stick in the CD, remove all other disks and reboot. And you should be on your way

desperate lady

Thanks everyone

I'll pass on the suggestions. It's being bugging us all day. You can't beat experts.

Have to go......Happy Christmas to you all