Fdisk and Partition Magic

[cdogg]

On one of my pc's, I've discovered that the system partition is not the "first" partition on the hard drive. When I use fdisk and choose option 4 ("display partition information&quot, it told me that I had a "Non-DOS" partition listed in the #1 position and my C: drive listed as #2.

The Non-DOS partition was extremely small only using 16 sectors on the disk. This was causing the C: partition to start on sector 16 instead of sector 0 or 1.

Not a big deal....I deleted the Non-DOS partition hoping I could then do a fdisk /mbr to get rid of that empty space I just cleared.

Well to make a long story short, the C: drive still starts on sector 16. It boots fine, but it's incompatible with Partition Magic. PM won't load spitting off "Disk Geometry" errors. Apparently, it doesn't like the fact that the C: partition starts on sector 16.

How do I get the partition rewritten to start on sector 0 or 1 without losing data?

Thanks in advance.....cdogg

 

[edfair]

What OS? What version of PM? How big is the HD?
I would suspect that you had some bios overlay for large drive support there but you'll need to give further info before you'll get help.
You may also have to redo your hard drive to get PM to work.
Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[cdogg]

Partition Magic 6.0
Windows 98SE

Hard drive is supposed to be 6 GB, though Windows registers it as 5.3GB


I've been to powerquest's website and reviewed information about the errors I've been getting. Basically, that's where I found that PM wants the partition in question to start on sector 0 or 1 (regardless of the version of PM that you have).

The only question I have is how to get the C: partition to start on one of the first sectors without formatting. Is this possible?

 

[FatesWebb]

Is this a COMPAQ???

if it is you deleted the diagnostic partition, which isnt a great idea. think of it as your cmos... you wont be able to access CMOS anymore...

If you deleted the diagnostic partition, in order to get it back you will have to fdisk and delete all partitions! and then use the compaq setup and diagnostics disks to reload the diagnostic partition. these disks can be made from a sp downloaded from compaqs website...

If you dont know what it is DONT DELETE IT it is most likely there for a reason...

I sure hope for your case that you didnt delete a diagnostice partition on a compaq OUCH!

 

[cdogg]

FatesWebb,

I appreciate your concern. However, this is not a Compaq and the hard drive was recently recloned. If I deleted a partition that was needed, then I'll say "screw it" and format the drive and start over. The way I see it, I don't want an unknown partition on the hard drive for any reason. I can still access the CMOS just fine.

It's an HP Pavilion N3250. I'm actually working on it for my father. We just received it back from HP after they replaced the mobo and hard drive. The image is a little screwy, so I wouldn't mind formatting it and installing XP.

Just wanted to see if there was a way to get the existing partition rewritten to the first sector. Anyone else have any suggestions before I format??

Thanks,
cdogg

 

[FatesWebb]

cddogg you have already tried partition magic which is the only way I am aware of unless there are other programs like PM... also I guess you could try the latest version of Ghost
since it has some partition resizing options. But yout right you may have to just reload hop this helps

 

[fasttoon]

Hey cdogg,

Try partition resizer, its freeware and you will be able to move your partition to the begining.

http://www.cadvancedap.com/Zeleps/

 

[cdogg]

Okay, here's an update....

I was able to resize the partition using Partition Magic in DOS. I had to use the rescue disks and when it came to the A:> prompt, typed PQMAGIC /IPE. The switch ignores the error. I was then able to resize the partition to start from the beginning (previously, there was 280MB of blank space at the beginning).

My problem still exists...

Even after doing all that and rebooting, Partition Magic in Windows still says the same error exists (disk geometry, error #105: starts on head/sector 16 and not 0 or 1).

A person from PowerQuest recommended that I use the DOS utility to completely re-create the partition after deleting it. Guess I'll have to go to work and backup the 1GB of data.

Keep ya'll updated...
~cdogg

 

[JO90XX]

How about looking at your Jumper settings??
I have a IBM drive that allows My drive to be set to detect 15 sectors or 16 depending on what my system will be able to use If the incorrect one is used the drive behaves erratically and starts to boot up from the wrong sector Perhaps this is a problem on yours??

 

[cdogg]

Thanks JO90XX. I just went ahead and backed up to CD, formatted C:, then copied the image back onto the drive. This worked without a hitch.

~cdogg

 

[XPisfree]

WinXP is creating the hidden 7.6 -8MB pre-partition. It LOOKS like RAW but is NTFS. No difference to 98 tho.
Its to let XP spyware boot before anythin else. If you take off the 98 and put in XP some time later, XP will create a new 8MB partition at the END of your drive due to no room at the front! (your never asked). THis is v.. unstable with other partitions possivby interfering, and suddenly XP just dies. Also. XP NTFS is not compatible 100% to PQMagic NTFS so not much longer for them on the planet..!

 

[cdogg]

That's great...except this laptop had Win98, not WinXP
~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein