Formatting my 2nd hard drive

drivenmad · 02-24-2007, 09:44 PM

I am going to install a bigger 2nd hard drive in my desktop and need some advice on what software to use for formatting this HD.

I am using Windows 98SE.

thanks

PC eye · 02-24-2007, 10:24 PM

How large is the new drive and what make? Over a certain size you would need the updated fdisk and even something like Western Digital's DRFAT32 if going over 55gb in size. The older fdisk is far less. Do you want one single primary partition there?

The updated fdisk or even the Linux partitioning tool GParted can be used to create one or more partitions on a new drive if over the original fdisk's size limitation. Once the one or more are created the format.com file even works for larger drives with the "Format C: /s" command. Here I had 98SE on a single 238.4gb primary partition on a second WD drive in an older build.

-=[DeEP]Inferno=- · 02-25-2007, 04:48 AM

Doesnt windows 98 have built in formatting software?

PC eye · 02-25-2007, 09:07 AM

You are thinking about XP there. The XP installer includes the ability to create or delete an existing partition provided it's not one from a newer release of XP like having an SP2 installation and using a SP1 recovey disk to remove it. Or some one had upgraded to Vista.

When running 98SE here with Western Digital drives(always it seems) the DRFAT32 was used for formatting a single primary for 98 on a 250gb drive now seeing Vista after XP and Linux replaced it. This was part of WD's Lifeguard utilities found at WD's support site. http://support.wdc.com/download/inde...id=999&swid=23

Seagate and Maxtor downloads are found at http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.js...00dd04090aRCRD

-=[DeEP]Inferno=- · 02-25-2007, 03:52 PM

Ok, im not familiear with 98 at all really.

drivenmad · 02-25-2007, 06:29 PM

The new drive is 40gb but cant remember the make as it is inside my pc but not connected.

PC eye · 02-26-2007, 01:21 AM

That will most likely turn out to be a WD 40gb there. The updated version of fdisk that will easily partition a drive larger then the 40gb there upto roughly 64gb is found at the bottom section of the MS page seen at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=263044

Once you have created a 98 boot floppy simpy delete the original fdisk to be replaced with the updated version downloaded from the page here. You can even burn the files found on the floppy onto a cd-r to make that a bootable disk for partitioning and formatting a drive for a 98 even ME installation. Upon creation of the one or more partitions if you decide to split the drive there you then exit fdisk and reboot again usually to then enter the "format C: /s" command for formatting the primary and format D: for a second if created.

With the smaller drive there staying with a single primary would be advised unless planning to backup files or dual OS. You would run out of room too fast when going to install a number of programs. The downloads of both the self extracting files for a 98 boot floppy and another link for download of the updated version of fdisk is found at http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

02-24-2007, 09:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
drivenmad New Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7	Formatting my 2nd hard drive - what software? I am going to install a bigger 2nd hard drive in my desktop and need some advice on what software to use for formatting this HD. I am using Windows 98SE. thanks

02-25-2007, 04:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
-=[DeEP]Inferno=- Silver Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kenyon, Minnesota Posts: 113	Doesnt windows 98 have built in formatting software? __________________ 98% of the teenage population will try, does or has tried smoking pot. If you're one of the 2% who hasn't, copy & paste this into your signature

02-25-2007, 03:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
-=[DeEP]Inferno=- Silver Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kenyon, Minnesota Posts: 113	Ok, im not familiear with 98 at all really. __________________ 98% of the teenage population will try, does or has tried smoking pot. If you're one of the 2% who hasn't, copy & paste this into your signature

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02-24-2007, 10:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,226	How large is the new drive and what make? Over a certain size you would need the updated fdisk and even something like Western Digital's DRFAT32 if going over 55gb in size. The older fdisk is far less. Do you want one single primary partition there? The updated fdisk or even the Linux partitioning tool GParted can be used to create one or more partitions on a new drive if over the original fdisk's size limitation. Once the one or more are created the format.com file even works for larger drives with the "Format C: /s" command. Here I had 98SE on a single 238.4gb primary partition on a second WD drive in an older build.

02-25-2007, 09:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,226	You are thinking about XP there. The XP installer includes the ability to create or delete an existing partition provided it's not one from a newer release of XP like having an SP2 installation and using a SP1 recovey disk to remove it. Or some one had upgraded to Vista. When running 98SE here with Western Digital drives(always it seems) the DRFAT32 was used for formatting a single primary for 98 on a 250gb drive now seeing Vista after XP and Linux replaced it. This was part of WD's Lifeguard utilities found at WD's support site. http://support.wdc.com/download/inde...id=999&swid=23 Seagate and Maxtor downloads are found at http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.js...00dd04090aRCRD

02-25-2007, 06:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
drivenmad New Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7	The new drive is 40gb but cant remember the make as it is inside my pc but not connected.

02-26-2007, 01:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,226	That will most likely turn out to be a WD 40gb there. The updated version of fdisk that will easily partition a drive larger then the 40gb there upto roughly 64gb is found at the bottom section of the MS page seen at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=263044 Once you have created a 98 boot floppy simpy delete the original fdisk to be replaced with the updated version downloaded from the page here. You can even burn the files found on the floppy onto a cd-r to make that a bootable disk for partitioning and formatting a drive for a 98 even ME installation. Upon creation of the one or more partitions if you decide to split the drive there you then exit fdisk and reboot again usually to then enter the "format C: /s" command for formatting the primary and format D: for a second if created. With the smaller drive there staying with a single primary would be advised unless planning to backup files or dual OS. You would run out of room too fast when going to install a number of programs. The downloads of both the self extracting files for a 98 boot floppy and another link for download of the updated version of fdisk is found at http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm