Can't Access D: Logical Drive (extended partition)
 

Hi,

I removed a 800MB hdd, with two partitions (two logical drives), from one
computer and put it in an older Compaq 386 computer. Both computers have
the same MsDos 6.22 systems. The 386 can access all the space in "C:" drive,
but when I try to access "D:" drive, I get an "invalid drive specification"
message. Do you know a method that I can access the extended
partition in this older 386 computer?

Thanks in advance, Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active key logger (spyware) in your PC.

"Brad" wrote in message
...

I removed a 800MB hdd, with two partitions (two logical drives), from
one
computer and put it in an older Compaq 386 computer. Both computers have
the same MsDos 6.22 systems. The 386 can access all the space in "C:"
drive,
but when I try to access "D:" drive, I get an "invalid drive
specification"
message. Do you know a method that I can access the extended
partition in this older 386 computer?

1. Confirm hardware set OK (800 Mb HD
jumpered correctly and connected correctly.)
2. Confirm software settings, e.g. what does
FDISK say about this drive? If you do not need
its data you ought to be able to create a new
partition and format it so it appears as D:
(I simply do not remember what DOS 6.22 does
if it finds two hard drives both set up as
Primary DOS partitions.)

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

What are the sizes of the two partitions, C: and D:? The BIOS on the 386 may not be
able to "see" beyond a max value of 1024 cylinders.

From Partition Magic's help file:

"The BIOS 1024 cylinder limitation exists because the start and end cylinder values
in the partition table (and some BIOSs) have a maximum value of 1024. Because some
operating systems such as DOS 6.22 use the CHS (Cylinder, Head, and Sector) values
to address sectors on the disk, they cannot access sectors beyond the 1024 cylinder.
When you start your computer the BIOS boots the operating system using the CHS
values to locate the first sector of the bootable partition. If the partition starts
past the 1024 cylinder, the BIOS may not be able to boot it because it cannot
address a cylinder number higher than 1024."
Copyright © PowerQuest Corporation. 1994-1999. All Rights Reserved.

The problem is likely to occur on computers where the hard disk has a capacity 504
MB or more and the BIOS was manufactured prior to 1994 (approximately).
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Brad" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I removed a 800MB hdd, with two partitions (two logical drives), from one
computer and put it in an older Compaq 386 computer. Both computers have
the same MsDos 6.22 systems. The 386 can access all the space in "C:" drive,
but when I try to access "D:" drive, I get an "invalid drive specification"
message. Do you know a method that I can access the extended
partition in this older 386 computer?

Thanks in advance, Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active key logger (spyware) in your PC.