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General discussion

file format

Jan 26, 2005 12:31PM PST

I have a notebook that i am currently trying to set up. I had some trouble formatting it, so i tried installing windows. Soon I gave up on that idea. Than I tried installing Linux, which ofcause, changet the flie format from FAT to what linux (mandrake) uses. Later I realised that format.com was on the drive that i was trying to format! I copied it to a floppy and tried it again. It wouldn't let me because it isn't a file format it reconises. is there any software i could use and how to use it. If i can do it with fdisk, can you tell me how? Thanx

Discussion is locked

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file format
Jan 26, 2005 3:12PM PST

I also forgot that when i start up the computer it says: "partition doesn't exist!
Save to disk feature is disabled.
Hit any key"

Does this mean anyhting?

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file format
Jan 26, 2005 4:04PM PST

the brand of the laptop is WiseTekif that is any help.

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Re: partition trouble
Jan 26, 2005 4:49PM PST

Josh,

Apparently, your machine is rather in disorder now. The message comes from the BIOS. A laptop BIOS can save the contents of RAM to the hard disk when power becomes low, and it needs a separate partition to do so. You'll find the Fujitsi-Siemens explanation and procedures for restoring this in http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/servicesupport/techsupport/lifebook/General/LLRecovery.htm. Just look it up in the documentation that came with your brand and model, or search for it on the net.

I think the best you can do is use fdisk or a freeware downloadable utility called delpart to delete all partitions on the hard disk. Then follow the procedures for installing the OS of your choice on a new empty hard disk, taking into account the save-partition mentioned above.

More on fdisk at http://www.fdisk.com, for example.

Hope this helps.


Kees

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RE:
Jan 26, 2005 4:57PM PST

Thanx. I will look into that. The laptop was GIVEN to a friend of mine, and they have lent it to me to try and get it working, so if it doesn't work, we haven't lost much.the message about the partitions was there before i got it. will some of these programs turn all my partitions into one and turn them to FAT? It is in a reall mess, but if I can't get it working, as I said, I haven't lost much. Thanx.

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RE
Jan 26, 2005 5:33PM PST

I downloaded delpart. it was allot easier to use than fdisk, because i made the mistake of trying linux, which put linux partitions on. So I deleted all the partitions, but it had trouble saving to the disk. I decided that I should try http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/servicesupport/techsupport/lifebook/General/LLRecovery.htm
and then delete tham. but it said that i had to use FDISK to delete all the partitions, which i cand do with fdisk, because it cant delete the linux ones, and delpart couldn't delete them either. Thanx anyway.
by the way. I have noticed that the hdd is not FAT, it is the linux format, which is why i cant format it using my bootable disk. is there anyway i can change it back to fat?