Need Formatting Software and How to Boot From CD-Drive 4

[DonHCVG]

I need information about the type of software to use to format a 6.4GB Hard Drive as 1 Partition. I used a Dos 6.2 Boot Disk to FDISK the drive. Dos only allows 2GB Partitions. Additionally, I have a IBM Personal Computer PC 300PL. I can't see how to boot from the CD-Drive in the BIOS Setup and I can find how to in the Owners Manual. I want to do a Dual Boot with Windows NT4.0 Server and Windows 2000 Server. I am hoping to, after formatting that is, simply put the Windows NT4 CD into the CD-Drive and have it boot and install that way. Any suggestions? Donald H. Heritage
Help Desk Agent
A+, MCSE Windows NT4

Email : dheritag@taima.on.ca

 

[DonHCVG]

Sorry ! Correction : can't not can

I need information about the type of software to use to format a 6.4GB Hard Drive as 1 Partition. I used a Dos 6.2 Boot Disk to FDISK the drive. Dos only allows 2GB Partitions. Additionally, I have a IBM Personal Computer PC 300PL. I can't see how to boot from the CD-Drive in the BIOS Setup and I can't find how to in the Owners Manual. I want to do a Dual Boot with Windows NT4.0 Server and Windows 2000 Server. I am hoping to, after formatting that is, simply put the Windows NT4 CD into the CD-Drive and have it boot and install that way. Any suggestions? Donald H. Heritage
Help Desk Agent
A+, MCSE Windows NT4

Email : dheritag@taima.on.ca

 

[jaeddy]

Well, first a caveat regarding dual booting NT and 2000. NT and 2000 use different and sometimes incompatible versions of NTFS which can cause problems so if you are determined to share the same drive be prepared for very irritating problems.

Next, in order to boot from the CD your system has to support this option. If there is no option in the BIOS to select the CD in the boot order you are essentially out of luck. Also, the CD you are using must itself be bootable (many of the later versions of NT install CD's are).

Now assuming you insist on forging ahead and you can't boot from the CD the thing to do is boot using the three NT setup disks and do a normal NT installation, deleting the partition you created and creating a new one during the install proccess. Be aware that NT generally does not support a system partition larger than 4GB (it depends on the service pack level of the CD you have). After installing, bring NT up to Service Pack 6a, then look in to Power Quest Partition Magic and see if you can resize the partition to the full size of the physical disk.

Once NT is installed you start the system, log in, then drop in the 2000 CD and proceed to install that.

What is it you are trying to accomplish? Is this a test box? If so you may want to eschew NTFS in favor of a straight FAT16 partition. Both OS's support it and compatibility issues are avoided, but you do lose all of the security and fault-tolerance inherent in NTFS.

 

[DonHCVG]

Thanks for your responce. I only have the Server CDs' and not the three backup floppies. I am starting from scratch. I need to format the hard drive first and I don't know what software allows you to format large partitions. I will also be using IBM Help to see if they can help with the bootup order but first I need to provide them with some information, computer type and serial number etc first which I will do tomorrow. I the mean time I thought I would get other pertinent information. Donald H. Heritage
Help Desk Agent
A+, MCSE Windows NT4

Email : dheritag@taima.on.ca

 

[jaeddy]

There is a utility on the NT Server CD which will make the boot floppies for you. Insert the CD in a system, open the CD and find either winnt.exe or winnt32.exe. From a command prompt change to the folder where these reside. If you are running a Win9x box use winnt /OX to start the floppy generation process. If you are on an NT box use winnt32 /OX. You'll need three floppy disks and teh program will prompt you to insert them.

Once again, depending on the service pack level of your Server CD you may be able to create the single partition you want. I know that Win 2K's set up can do it as well. Win 2k also has a utility to make start-up install diskettes- I think they are mkboot and mkboot32 repectively.

 

[DonHCVG]

Thank You I will give it a shoot. Donald H. Heritage
Help Desk Agent
A+, MCSE Windows NT4

Email : dheritag@taima.on.ca

 

[Kjonnnn]

Well if u have access to a windows 98 machine, make a boot disk from it.

When you boot from that disk it will install the CD drivers and ask you if you wanna enable large disk support.

 

[DonHCVG]

Thank You Kjonnnn. Donald H. Heritage
Help Desk Agent
A+, MCSE Windows NT4

Email : dheritag@taima.on.ca

 

[braddds]

go to

http://www.bootdisk.com/

there you can find all that you need

 

[MISAdmin]

If your BIOS is too old to Boot from CD and your desperate... heres another suggestion:
You could always format the drive w/ DOS as a 4gb partition and leave the rest of the space unused (You'll have to use something newer than 6.2 to get larger than 4gb though), then load a generic CD ROM driver and once it recognizes the CD, drop in the NT 4 CD and run winnt with the /b switch (this will bypas the need for the boot disks. Once your running through setup, you can overwrite the existing partition as NTFS and once NT is installed, go into disk manager to claim the rest of the unused space on the drive and add it to the Primary partition...

 

[Daire]

If you can get someone with Win 98 you can make a boot disk that has cdrom support. Then when you boot up you can start your install of NT or 2000. During the install with either OS you can create, delete and I think format partitions. I am using a 300 PL at the moment as a testbox and was trying to put 95'98'NT and 2000pro on 4 2GB partitions. You should be able to set the pc to boot from CD in setup. I have worked with 300PL's and GL's for years and it always could be done. Good luck and let us know how u get on. BOB THE BUILDER WILL FIX IT 4U

 

[DonHCVG]

Thanks to all who responded. I was able to create a Win 98 Boot Disk and all is well now. Once again thanks for your help. Donald H. Heritage
Help Desk Agent
A+, MCSE Windows NT4

Email : dheritag@taima.on.ca

 

[Guest_imported]

I saw on IBM's web site that they've updated the BIOS for this pretty recently. I'm hoping that the startup option they talk about is supported. here's a URL about IBM 300PL and Windows 2000:

http://www-1.ibm.com/support/manager.wss?rs=0&rt=0&org=psg&doc=MIGR-4GLNTT

Me, I got it to work on part number 6892 and 6862 ok.

If you go to the "startup" selection in BIOS, just hit "ENTER" to set the sequence of devices for booting. I didn't see it at first but it's very possible to boot most of these from CD. It'll beat the heck out of floppies.

Good luck!
Steve

 

[ceh4702]

Try using MaxBlast PlusII.

It is a utility from the Maxtor utility software download.

They don't make this, but they let you download it.

http://www.maxtor.com/Maxtorhome.htm

Support==>Download software utilities.

This utility will let you use a hard drive that is too big for your BIOS. However I do not think you can use one partition for the entire drive. It will let you access the entire drive.
If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.