Re: [Freedos-user] Another possible ambiguity of target; a drive part not acceptable to the installer.
Hi, On Wed, Dec 19, 2012 at 10:36 PM, Felix Miata wrote: > On 2012-12-19 10:37 (GMT-0800) peasth...@shaw.ca composed: > >> From: Rugxulo > >>> FDISK creates at least one partition (primary, active, FAT, presumably >>> bootable) for DOS. (This is written into the partition table, ... > >> OK. If it damages the table in the process, there will be >> a problem accessing data on parts 2, 3 or 4. Exactly what >> I wish to avoid. > > Why do you think a partitioning tool would "damage" a table? No FDISK I've > ever used will ignore existing partitions. To alter existing partitions > requires you to direct it delete first, then create anew. To create new from > freespace does not require it do anything to what's already there. > > The installer will install to existing without need to change any table > entries with FDISK, so you're safe to complete partitioning with any tool > that suits you prior to beginning installation, as long as that tool conforms > to common conventions. If really worried, you can backup your MBR before hand (preferably to bootable floppy or similar). You can use BTTR's BOOTMGR for this. And even if your partition table was corrupted somehow, you could "maybe" use TestDisk to recover it for you. Anyways, it's probably best to create partition (FDISK) and format it at the same time so there is no confusing. But you have to reboot after using FDISK for the changes to take effect. Yes, it's a bit dicey when multibooting, but that's unavoidable. -- LogMeIn Rescue: Anywhere, Anytime Remote support for IT. Free Trial Remotely access PCs and mobile devices and provide instant support Improve your efficiency, and focus on delivering more value-add services Discover what IT Professionals Know. Rescue delivers http://p.sf.net/sfu/logmein_12329d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Another possible ambiguity of target; a drive part not acceptable to the installer.
On 2012-12-19 10:37 (GMT-0800) peasth...@shaw.ca composed: > From: Rugxulo >> FDISK creates at least one partition (primary, active, FAT, presumably >> bootable) for DOS. (This is written into the partition table, ... > OK. If it damages the table in the process, there will be > a problem accessing data on parts 2, 3 or 4. Exactly what > I wish to avoid. Why do you think a partitioning tool would "damage" a table? No FDISK I've ever used will ignore existing partitions. To alter existing partitions requires you to direct it delete first, then create anew. To create new from freespace does not require it do anything to what's already there. The only catch is if existing was created out of conformance with ancient CHS or standard CHS-based LBA conventions like some Linux tools do, it may refuse to do anything at all other than delete, and _possibly_ may disregard what it finds, but it won't proceed without you telling it what you want it to do. If it fails to find what you know is there, you select exit instead of risking damage. Redhat's Disk Druid had a reputation for convention disregard. The installer will install to existing without need to change any table entries with FDISK, so you're safe to complete partitioning with any tool that suits you prior to beginning installation, as long as that tool conforms to common conventions. -- "The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (New Living Translation) Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks! Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/ -- LogMeIn Rescue: Anywhere, Anytime Remote support for IT. Free Trial Remotely access PCs and mobile devices and provide instant support Improve your efficiency, and focus on delivering more value-add services Discover what IT Professionals Know. Rescue delivers http://p.sf.net/sfu/logmein_12329d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] Another possible ambiguity of target; a drive part not acceptable to the installer.
Hi,
On Mon, Dec 17, 2012 at 6:04 PM, wrote:
>
> Given a drive partitioned with fdisk in Debian Linux.
> The first part is labelled type 6 and I want to install
> FreeDOS there. The FreeDOS 1.1 CD installer complains
> and wants to "format the disk". Does it really want to
> format the whole disk containing 4 parts? Does it
> intend to format only one part in spite of saying "disk"?
FDISK creates at least one partition (primary, active, FAT, presumably
bootable) for DOS. (This is written into the partition table, which is
part of the MBR, usually sector 0 in the disk, 512 bytes minus a few
reserved bytes.)
FORMAT is what makes it usable/readable. So just creating it and
rebooting isn't enough, you also have to (at least "quick") format it.
Then you "SYS A: C:" (or similar) to install the boot sector (also in
the MBR) and the shell (COMMAND.COM) and kernel (KERNEL.SYS).
That's the most minimal DOS install. (Though you'll probably also want
to write CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT eventually and install some
memory managers, device drivers, tools, etc.)
> Can FreeDOS be installed to the first part without
> damaging data on subsequent parts? If so, how?
Yes, unless you do something wrong. :-)Go back to Debian, or
even better use GParted (if possible) or SPFdisk, make sure the
partition ("drive") is formatted with some kind of "FAT", active,
bootable, and then make sure you "sys" it so that it will have a boot
sector that can load the shell and kernel.
Do you also have a working floppy drive? Working CD drive?
--
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Re: [Freedos-user] Another possible ambiguity of target; a drive part not acceptable to the installer.
On Monday, December 17, 2012, wrote: > Given a drive partitioned with fdisk in Debian Linux. > The first part is labelled type 6 and I want to install > FreeDOS there. The FreeDOS 1.1 CD installer complains > and wants to "format the disk". Does it really want to > format the whole disk containing 4 parts? Does it > intend to format only one part in spite of saying "disk"? > > Can FreeDOS be installed to the first part without > damaging data on subsequent parts? If so, how? > > It wants to run the FORMAT command, which operates on one partition to lay down a DOS file system. If you want to be really safe you can run mkdosfs from Debian to put a DOS file system on that partition, then boot the FreeDOS installer again. jh -- LogMeIn Rescue: Anywhere, Anytime Remote support for IT. Free Trial Remotely access PCs and mobile devices and provide instant support Improve your efficiency, and focus on delivering more value-add services Discover what IT Professionals Know. Rescue delivers http://p.sf.net/sfu/logmein_12329d2d___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
[Freedos-user] Another possible ambiguity of target; a drive part not acceptable to the installer.
Given a drive partitioned with fdisk in Debian Linux. The first part is labelled type 6 and I want to install FreeDOS there. The FreeDOS 1.1 CD installer complains and wants to "format the disk". Does it really want to format the whole disk containing 4 parts? Does it intend to format only one part in spite of saying "disk"? Can FreeDOS be installed to the first part without damaging data on subsequent parts? If so, how? Thanks, ... Peter E. -- 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 12 Tel +13606390202 Bcc: peasthope at shaw.ca http://carnot.yi.org/ "http://members.shaw.ca/peasthope/index.html#Itinerary " -- LogMeIn Rescue: Anywhere, Anytime Remote support for IT. Free Trial Remotely access PCs and mobile devices and provide instant support Improve your efficiency, and focus on delivering more value-add services Discover what IT Professionals Know. Rescue delivers http://p.sf.net/sfu/logmein_12329d2d ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
