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Multiple
Primary DOS Partitions |
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System Commander
is designed to work on systems with multiple DOS partitions. One common
configuration, made possible with System Commander, is DOS/Windows
3.1 in one primary partition and Windows 95 in another primary partition.
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Making
Multiple Primary DOS Partitions |
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One easy way to accomplish this is to use Partition
Commander, which allows the creation of multiple primary FAT
partitions. An alternate way uses the SCDISK utility and the FDISK
from DOS or Windows 95.
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Requirements |
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What
to do if all drive space is allocated |
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You will need to free up allocated disk space. Consider using a partitioning
software tool such as Partition Commander, which allows changing the
size of a partition without deleting the data within the partition.
Or, delete one
or more partitions, and then recreate a smaller partition(s) to
make available disk space. Remember to back up your data before
deleting the partition, since all of the data will be destroyed.
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Steps
for making another primary partition |
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Hide the
existing FAT partition(s)
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Run
the SCDISK utility, and select Change boot status for OS install.
Press 9 to make no partitions bootable. The SCDISK utility will
hide the partitions temporarily. Hidden partition are never
hidden from System Commander. Now reboot directly from a DOS
or Windows 95 boot floppy.
Do not
boot through System Commander (even from the "Boot from
Drive A: option) since this will expose the hidden partitions.
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Create
the new primary partition |
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Run
FDISK and create another primary partition. Ignore any partitions
labeled non-DOS, as these are other temporarily hidden partitions.
FDISK
will not let you create another primary partition if you do
not have unallocated disk space. If this is a problem, see
our prior note above on What to do if all drive space is allocated.
Once the
new primary is created, exit FDISK. It is force a reboot.
Use the DOS boot diskette for this reboot.
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Format
the partition and make it bootable. |
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Before
formatting, execute the DIR command on the C: drive. It should
return an error, since the drive is not yet formatted. If you
do not get an error, DO NOT FORMAT, since something is wrong.
The following command formats and transfers the system to a
new partition:
A:>format
C:/s
Remember,
you can only make DOS bootable from the first drive. All Microsoft
operating systems are hard coded internally to always assume
they boot from the first drive. They do allow booting from
any of the four primary partitions on the first drive.
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End
of procedure |
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DOS
BUG: We have seen a minor bug in all versions of DOS can affect some
configurations. With two primary FAT partitions,
and an extended partition (on any drive) without any FAT partitions,
DOS cannot see the other primary partition. This DOS bug does not
occur when no extended partition exists, or if one or more logical
FAT partitions exist in the extended partition. |
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While
every attempt is made to ensure the usefulness and accuracy of this
information, it is provided only as a service of VCOM.
No warranty is given with respect to this information regarding the
accuracy, usability, or fitness for a particular purpose. Use this
information at your own risk. Under no circumstances shall VCOM
be held liable for any damages either incidental or consequential. |
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