the easyest way to solve this problem is with partition magic. I've had this problem my self several times. I repartitioned with PM and it was fixed. You can probably find one on a warez site "assuming you are not bothered by this" isla0005 at tc.umn.edu wrote: > Thanks guys. > > How do I do the "low level" format ? > > I only have the mandrake installation disk and the floppy I made > using rawwrite.(the kernel floppy) > now, If I want to run linux fdisk should I boot from the linux > floppy and then type "linux fdisk" or do I have to read something > from the Installation CD or do something else? > > I have still a lot to learn. > > Apu > > --- Original Message --- > Brian <marshmallowmateys at email.com> Wrote on > Mon, 21 Aug 2000 14:50:41 -0400 (EDT) > ------------------ > >You may have a lingering non-dos partition. Sometimes dos fdisk > >isn't able > >to get rid of these. If the version of mandrake you have has > >partition > >magic, try that. If not, linux fdisk, cfdisk, disk druid, fips, > >etc. > Should > >be able to get rid of the offending partition. > > DOS fdisk understands 2 partition types and labels anything else > non-DOS. > linux fdisk recognizes almost 100 types, and can see a lot of > things that > DOS fdisk won't. Since you've deleted and resized partitions, > there's a > very good chance that you have one or more partitions that don't > start or > end on a cylinder boundary. linux fdisk will see them, Dos fdisk > won't. > Doing a 'p' in linux fdisk tells you everything about your partitions. > If > nothing is listed, there are no partitions. It doesn't sound > like you care > too much about the windows partition (assuming you either have > it backed up > or don't care about whatever's on there) which is always a good > thing when > messing with partition tables :-). > > Your best bet would be to boot linux fdisk, delete all partitions, > reboot > from a floppy, run fdisk /mbr under DOS to make sure LILO or > any other boot > sector programs are gone, and repartition using DOS fdisk. Once > you have > one big partition dump Windows back on and you're on your way. > My > experiences with linux fdisk creating FAT partitions has not > been good in > the past, so be sure to re-create those with DOS. > > If all else fails, you may have to low level format the disk. > Don't try it > unless you are ABSOLUTREY SURE you can't get that space back > any other way, > or just live with it. Low level formatting has given me a high > success rate > but those few that didn't make it are now at the bottom of the > dumpster. > Just to warn you :-) > > -Brian > > ----------------------------------------------- > FREE! The World's Best Email Address @email.com > Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: tclug-list-unsubscribe at mn-linux.org > For additional commands, e-mail: tclug-list-help at mn-linux.org > > ----- > Sent using MailStart.com ( http://MailStart.Com/welcome.html ) > The FREE way to access your mailbox via any web browser, anywhere! > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: tclug-list-unsubscribe at mn-linux.org > For additional commands, e-mail: tclug-list-help at mn-linux.org ------ http://USFamily.Net/info - Unlimited Internet - From $7.99/mo! ------ --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: tclug-list-unsubscribe at mn-linux.org For additional commands, e-mail: tclug-list-help at mn-linux.org