sholdk
asked on
FDisk Command Line
I hope that you don't mind a DOS question, since you do not have a catagory for the DOS Operating System.
I would like to be able to run fdisk.exe in a batch file to automatically re-partition a hard drive. The command line that I have used thus far is fdisk /pri:2500 /ext:2000 /log:2000. This has yielded a primary dos partition of 2500mb and a logical partition of 2000mb with no logical drive defined. How can I get the logical drive defined with a drive letter attached to it, without rebooting and and rerunning fdisk from the command line to define that logical drive?
I would like to be able to run fdisk.exe in a batch file to automatically re-partition a hard drive. The command line that I have used thus far is fdisk /pri:2500 /ext:2000 /log:2000. This has yielded a primary dos partition of 2500mb and a logical partition of 2000mb with no logical drive defined. How can I get the logical drive defined with a drive letter attached to it, without rebooting and and rerunning fdisk from the command line to define that logical drive?
The problem is that changes do not take effect until the system has been rebooted, so after creating a primary the system must be rebooted and so on. I do not think that it can be done.
Wayneb is correct, you HAVE to re-boot for fdisk changes to take effect.
Have you tried GDISK from Ghost software (Shareware)??
Have you tried GDISK from Ghost software (Shareware)??
ASKER
I agree that this is somewhat true, but you can create a Primary, Extended and Logical drive in the same session if you run it in interactive mode, you just have to select "N" when creating the primary partition so that you don't have to reboot at that time. This command line is from an OEM manufacturer that they use on their rebuild diskette to reset the system back to the original factory configuration. I am a technology consultant with a Fortune 500 company and we modify these factory loads to suit our enviroment. We are currently trying to duplicate this rebuild process for our internal use.
My question to you is, how did you manage to get a 2500mb partition in Dos first of all?
Mike
Mike
In interactive mode there is plenty of time to create the extended partition BEFORE the logical drive. Could this be the cause that the logical drive isn't formed with the command line switces
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sholdk,,, here is a link to download the command Reboot.com
http://www.tnet.com.au/software/Win95_Boot_Disk/WIN95BT
good luck,
Gary
http://www.tnet.com.au/software/Win95_Boot_Disk/WIN95BT
good luck,
Gary
sholdk,,, I checked out the other link to Reboot.com and the file integrity was corrupt. But,, this one is ok,, however,, you must un-zip the file first.. thus it is named Reboot.zip
http://home1.inet.tele.dk/ianking/switch95.htm
http://home1.inet.tele.dk/ianking/switch95.htm
ASKER
Gary,
The problem is when I reboot it only shows the Primary and Extended partitions and no Logical Drive has actually been created. Do I need to do something else?
The problem is when I reboot it only shows the Primary and Extended partitions and no Logical Drive has actually been created. Do I need to do something else?
FDISK in autoexec.bat with appropriate switch by copying autoexec.2 to autoexec.bat. However does FDISK automatically boot after modifications? If so this is not possible.
The copying of autoexec.bat shold take place between FDISK and REBOOT commands
The copying of autoexec.bat shold take place between FDISK and REBOOT commands
sKiiKe,,,,
I realize that the lexicographical order may not seem appropriate,,, It will have to be tested,,,, the question didn't ask for the code,,, therefore I didn't write the code,,,, I am not sure what your point is because I didn't write Psuedo code,,, I am merely implicating the steps to gain the objective. Furthermore,,, the reboot command can called where ever it works,,, thus it will have to be experimented with,,, But most importantly it is entirely possible.
I realize that the lexicographical order may not seem appropriate,,, It will have to be tested,,,, the question didn't ask for the code,,, therefore I didn't write the code,,,, I am not sure what your point is because I didn't write Psuedo code,,, I am merely implicating the steps to gain the objective. Furthermore,,, the reboot command can called where ever it works,,, thus it will have to be experimented with,,, But most importantly it is entirely possible.
sholdk, Have you tried to format the drive after the reboot?
I wasn't clear enough with my comment. After re-reading the question my comment is slightly beside the point.
However I don't know if this procedure can be achieved without floppy-boot and that's where my thoughts were when I wrote my comment.
Booting with floppydisk with a comment FDISK /pri:2500 /ext:2000 in autoexec.bat. If FDISK didn't boot immediately after
FDISK /pri:2500 /ext:2000 then You could automate the forming of logical drive by copying an alternative autoexec.bat to the place of the original a:\autoexec.bat with commnet FDISK /log:2000 and then REBOOT. On the following reboot the logical drive would be formed. With a third autoexec.3 copied to autoexec.bat with comment Format c: and Format d: would result to the usable drives.
But this was beside the point.
However I don't know if this procedure can be achieved without floppy-boot and that's where my thoughts were when I wrote my comment.
Booting with floppydisk with a comment FDISK /pri:2500 /ext:2000 in autoexec.bat. If FDISK didn't boot immediately after
FDISK /pri:2500 /ext:2000 then You could automate the forming of logical drive by copying an alternative autoexec.bat to the place of the original a:\autoexec.bat with commnet FDISK /log:2000 and then REBOOT. On the following reboot the logical drive would be formed. With a third autoexec.3 copied to autoexec.bat with comment Format c: and Format d: would result to the usable drives.
But this was beside the point.
sKiiKe, Sorry,,, I wasn't very clear on my approach,, but yes,, you are correct,,, the system would have to booted by a Floppy or some other removeable media,,,, Thanks for the input
ASKER
Gary,
In response to your question, yes I have formatted the drive after successfully creating a primary partition. But the logical drive does not exist. If I run fdisk from the prompt then I can re-create and successfully format the logical drive. I did however possibly find some limitiations of fdisk today. When using the command line that I indicated above for a smaller drive I was able to succesfully create a primary, extended and logical hard drives on a drive with a total capacity of 850mb. When using a 4.1GB drive the logical drive is not created. Any other suggestions?
In response to your question, yes I have formatted the drive after successfully creating a primary partition. But the logical drive does not exist. If I run fdisk from the prompt then I can re-create and successfully format the logical drive. I did however possibly find some limitiations of fdisk today. When using the command line that I indicated above for a smaller drive I was able to succesfully create a primary, extended and logical hard drives on a drive with a total capacity of 850mb. When using a 4.1GB drive the logical drive is not created. Any other suggestions?
I think you answered your own question. Fdisk has some serious limitations. You can experiment with latest fdisk from w95 OSR2.X or W98. You must realize OSR and W98 fdisk support FAT32 only - so any partition created with it will be FAT32 partition.
As much as I know command line parameters are the same for W98 and OSR2 fdisk.
Regards,
Damir
As much as I know command line parameters are the same for W98 and OSR2 fdisk.
Regards,
Damir
Well, would you tell us how you solved your problem? I'm very curious..
Regards,
Damir
Regards,
Damir
There is a new fdisk out for larger drives - > 64GB.
ASKER