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Formatting OSR2 with Fat 32


This page tells you how I formatted my hard drive with Fat 32 on Windows OSR 2.  This was the procedure I used after I installed my new hard drive and again after I upgraded my BIOS to Mr. BIOS.  Remember the procedure will be different for Fat 16 and other versions of Windows, but at least the article will give you some idea as to what is involved.  The following has been modified from it's source, this is a standard procedure so it is hard to modify the text too much, but I did my best of using my own words.
 

When to use Fat 32
How to partition a hard drive via Windows 95B FDISK Utility
    Before you begin you will need your Windows 95 start up disk and your Windows 95 installation disk.  These should be included on your master CD.  Or maybe you are like me and you are using a version of Windows 95 that is not supplied by Packard Bell, then you will have your own copy of Windows 95.
     
  1. Start with your computer off and place your Windows 95B Setup Diskette in the A drive.  Now Boot the PC.
  2. You will now see a "Welcome to Setup" screen, welcoming you to the setup program.  However, you will now need to exit this program and get to an A:, this can be done by pressing the [F3] function key twice.
  3. Now you need to Type "FDISK" and then press the [Enter] key. This will prompt you with:
  4. Do you wish to enable large disk support? Y or N
     
        NOTE: A FAT 16 partition(s) will be created if users answer "NO" to this question.
  5. If you want Fat 32 Type "Y" for yes and press the [Enter] key.  This will then give you the FDISK Options Menu on the screen.

  6.  
    NOTE:  If there is one hard drive installed, a 4 (four) option menu will appear and if there is MORE than one hard drive in the system, a 5 (five) option menu will appear. If the hard drive is DEVICE 0 (zero), continue on to step 5. Do the following if the hard drive being installed is OTHER than Device 0):
  7. Highlight option 4 for "Display Partition Information" and press the [Enter] key. The user should be prompted with:
  8. No Partitions Defined
      NOTE:  ALL existing partitions must be deleted before continuing.
     
      ! WARNING !  This will delete ALL existing data on the hard drive.
  9. Now press the [ESC] key to return to the FDISK options menu.
  10. You should highlight option 1 to "Create DOS partition or Logical DOS drive" and press the [Enter] key.
  11. Then highlight option 1 to "Create Primary DOS Partition" and press the [Enter] key.
  12. After FDISK verifies the drive integrity, it will prompt the user with:

  13.  
      Do you wish to use the maximum available size for a Primary DOS Partition and make the Partition active (Y/N)?
     
  14. Type "Y" for yes and press the [Enter] key.  This step will give you one large partition for your entire drive.
  15. Press the [ESC] key when prompted with:
  16. You must restart the system for changes to take effect. Press the ESC key to exit FDISK and remove the floppy diskette in drive A:.
    Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to reboot the computer.
  17. Press the [Ctrl]-[Alt]-[Del] keys to reboot the PC.
You have now partitioned the hard drive and you next need to format the hard drive.  Follow the instructions in the next section to continue on with the formatting.


Formatting your hard drive with the Windows 95B FORMAT Utility

  1. Your PC is now rebooting after partitioning the hard drive, make sure the the Windows 95B Setup Diskette is still in the A drive.
  2. Again you will boot into the set up utility, so again you need to Press the [F3] function key twice to exit at the "Welcome to Setup" screen.
  3. Type "FORMAT {drive letter}:" and press the [Enter] key to format your hard drive. You will then be prompted with:
  4. "WARNING all data on non removable
    disk drive {drive letter}: will be lost
    proceed with format? Y/N"
     
  5. If it is the correct drive Type "Y" for yes and press the [Enter] key. Once you hit enter the format utility will then prepare the specified hard drive for use with the Windows 95B operating system.
Now your drive will need the operating system installed on it.


Installing Windows 95B

After the Installation

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