Reformat HD in NTFS

[Cleo68]

Hi Wolluf's
Can I use the fdisk/format floppy startup disk from ME to reformat the hard disk in my laptop that is loaded with the XP PRO OS, ie. NTFS.

I made a mess trying to partition my hard drive, I now get the error 'Unable to Mount File system'. Everything works Ok in Windows but in Dos I can't see the C: drive, but it is there in fdisk!! so I can't reformat C: from Dos.

I dare not delete everything using fdisk because I don't know if I will be able to reformat my HD if I still can not see the C:.

any suggestions?

Cleo68

 

[wolluf]

Cleo,

I'm a little confused by your post. Trying to work out what you were doing/have done.

You say 'Everything works Ok in Windows but in Dos I can't see the C: drive'. So, is XP still functioning? What did you actually do to say 'I made a mess trying to partition my hard drive'.

The only thing you can do with an ME boot floppy is remove an NTFS partition (delete partition in fdisk - it will appear as non-dos). ME does not support NTFS filestore. So, you could delete ntfs partition, then create fat32 one using ME boot floppy's fdisk (then reboot & format new paritition). But htis would obviously wipe any data you have on existing partition.

So, could you explain a bit more about what's happened, and what you are trying to do (eg, save data, reload XP, load another operating system, dual boot...)

 

[Cleo68]

Hi Wolluf

Thanks for quick response.
I used Partition Magic V.5.0 to partition my 30 gig HD into a C: and D: drive.
I resized C: down to 15 gig to get me 15 gig of Free space,
Create made a new 15 gig HPFS/NTFS partition, all Ok so far - but I clicked on Format and this did not work, I clicked on check for errors and found these errors,

1527 bad update sequence number.
1632 vol bitmap not contiguous.
1516 improper demount.

At this point I exited programe. Restarted in Windows XP and found I only had my original 30 gig C: drive and no additional partition.
All programs on C: still worked OK.

I have now found out that Partition Magic V.5.0 will not work on NTFS and I should not have used it.

So I tried a different Partition Program BOOTIT NG this worked Ok until I came to Format then I got an error
'Unable to Mount File System'. At this point I wrote to you for help!!

In the mean time I found and ran a reinstall OS CD which includes formating. I used the BOOTIT NG prog again and Hey Presto - SUCCESS, I now have a drive with 2x 15 gig partitions) both work Ok!
I have checked for errors and all seems Ok.
So thanks again and I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Regards Cleo68

 

[johnodq]

The program for drive configuration in XP is called DISKPART[/b}.

Just go into command console and run diskpart then you'll be able to change partitions etc as required.



---------------
Johnodq
---------------
Please let me know if the advice I give is of help.
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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.

 

[Cleo68]

Hi Johnodq

Thank you for your help. Its obvious when you know how isn't it!!!!!!! )

In a moment of panic of what seemed to be a disaster I contacted Tec-Guy. So thanks again for your help.

I have no problems now.

Regards
cleo68

 

[wolluf]

Cleo - hope you really have no problems now - because johnodq was oversimplifying. XP's native disk partitioning tools (and disk management - run diskmgmt.msc is much easier to use than diskpart) does not allow you to resize partitions. You need something like Partition Magic (version& or later) to do this.

anyway - post back if you need more.

 

[johnodq]

As the post said " to reformat the hard disk in my laptop....." I assumed (Maybe wrongly) that a reformat was required ! NOT resizing !

If we only give negative resposes all the time and keep trying to be "clever" are we really helping or just trying to make ourselves feel better ???

---------------
Johnodq
---------------
Please let me know if the advice I give is of help.
Feedback will benefit all

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.