Conflicting views

I am sad about this group; I hope my i.s.p carries it.

That said, I'd like to clear up something regarding 'format c: /s'. (I
believe the 'S' to be for system-files.)

In a short while I will be putting 98se on a computer using the cab
files only, and want to know if the 'S' switch is necessary at the
Format stage; some have said yes, while others say no. What are the
pro's and cons? What do people here say?

Ed.

Eddie wrote:
I am sad about this group; I hope my i.s.p carries it.


I'm glad I got my last problem solved before its demise!

That said, I'd like to clear up something regarding 'format c: /s'. (I
believe the 'S' to be for system-files.)

In a short while I will be putting 98se on a computer using the cab
files only, and want to know if the 'S' switch is necessary at the
Format stage; some have said yes, while others say no. What are the
pro's and cons? What do people here say?


"SYS X:" will copy certain system files (IO.sys, Command.com & perhaps
MSDOS.sys) from the Startup Diskette to the root of Xartition. It ALSO
sets the PBR (Partition Boot Record) drive number to x'80', so that it
is now in the bootstrap. It does so, no matter whether it is HD0 -- the
hard drive on the primary IDE connector. To actually boot it, one must
still move it to be HD0, however, unless BIOS or some 3rd party app can
manage without it.

My guess is that the PBR will be fine IF the partition is on HD0 at the
time of its creation. Otherwise, you must SYS it before it will boot...

Absent an odd MSDOS.sys or other shenanigan, to boot to Windows or DOS,
a partition must...

1. Be on an HDD that is jumpered Master or Single.
If another is on the cable, that must be jumpered Slave,
unless, maybe, they are both jumpered cable select.

2. Be a Primary Partition (not a Volume in an Extended Partition).

3. Be the Active partition.
FDISK option 2 makes a partition the Active one.

4. Be on an HDD with boot code in its MBR (Master Boot Record).
FDISK /MBR puts it there, but there are cautions about that.

5. Be in the bootstrap.
The PBR (Partition Boot Record) drive number must be x'80'.
SYS does that... "SYS C:", if after the move. But "SYS D:" is
good too, if done before the move. It doesn't matter where it is,
SYS will always put an x'80' in there!


To check some of those...

(a) FDISK
(b) Press ENTER to accept Large Disk Support.
(c) Select option 4 (Display Partition Information), & hit ENTER.
(d) ESC your way OUT, when done.

Here is what mine showed.
NOTES: "PRI" is Primary, "EXT" is Extended...
"A" under "Status" means "Active".

Display Partition Information
Current fixed disk drive: 1

Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
C: 1 A PRI DOS P C R HARD 7996 FAT32 42%
2 EXT DOS 11096
58%

Display Partition Information
Current fixed disk drive: 2

Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
D: 1 PRI DOS P C R COPY 7996 FAT32 21%
2 EXT DOS 30174
79%

Ed.

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR

Eddie wrote:
I am sad about this group; I hope my i.s.p carries it.


I'm glad I got my last problem solved before its demise!

That said, I'd like to clear up something regarding 'format c: /s'. (I
believe the 'S' to be for system-files.)

In a short while I will be putting 98se on a computer using the cab
files only, and want to know if the 'S' switch is necessary at the
Format stage; some have said yes, while others say no. What are the
pro's and cons? What do people here say?


"SYS X:" will copy certain system files (IO.sys, Command.com & perhaps
MSDOS.sys) from the Startup Diskette to the root of Xartition. It ALSO
sets the PBR (Partition Boot Record) drive number to x'80', so that it
is now in the bootstrap. It does so, no matter whether it is HD0 -- the
hard drive on the primary IDE connector. To actually boot it, one must
still move it to be HD0, however, unless BIOS or some 3rd party app can
manage without it.

My guess is that the PBR will be fine IF the partition is on HD0 at the
time of its creation. Otherwise, you must SYS it before it will boot...

Absent an odd MSDOS.sys or other shenanigan, to boot to Windows or DOS,
a partition must...

1. Be on an HDD that is jumpered Master or Single.
If another is on the cable, that must be jumpered Slave,
unless, maybe, they are both jumpered cable select.

2. Be a Primary Partition (not a Volume in an Extended Partition).

3. Be the Active partition.
FDISK option 2 makes a partition the Active one.

4. Be on an HDD with boot code in its MBR (Master Boot Record).
FDISK /MBR puts it there, but there are cautions about that.

5. Be in the bootstrap.
The PBR (Partition Boot Record) drive number must be x'80'.
SYS does that... "SYS C:", if after the move. But "SYS D:" is
good too, if done before the move. It doesn't matter where it is,
SYS will always put an x'80' in there!


To check some of those...

(a) FDISK
(b) Press ENTER to accept Large Disk Support.
(c) Select option 4 (Display Partition Information), & hit ENTER.
(d) ESC your way OUT, when done.

Here is what mine showed.
NOTES: "PRI" is Primary, "EXT" is Extended...
"A" under "Status" means "Active".

Display Partition Information
Current fixed disk drive: 1

Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
C: 1 A PRI DOS P C R HARD 7996 FAT32 42%
2 EXT DOS 11096
58%

Display Partition Information
Current fixed disk drive: 2

Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
D: 1 PRI DOS P C R COPY 7996 FAT32 21%
2 EXT DOS 30174
79%

Ed.

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR

Eddie wrote in
:

I am sad about this group; I hope my i.s.p carries it.

That said, I'd like to clear up something regarding 'format
c: /s'. (I believe the 'S' to be for system-files.)

In a short while I will be putting 98se on a computer using
the cab files only, and want to know if the 'S' switch is
necessary at the Format stage; some have said yes, while
others say no. What are the pro's and cons? What do
people here say?

Just in case you need a shorter answer (PCR's is excellent but a
little long and /possibly/ confusing), get a 98SE bootdisk from
somewhere on the web (like www.bootdisk.com, specifically:

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

And choose your flavor. I am /guessing/ your cabs are on a CD,
so get a bootdisk with universal CD drive support - they may
actually /all/ have it, I can't remember...

Then make the floppy bootdisk (or a booting CDR).

I WOULD strongly suggest using F-disk (it will be on the boot
disk) to partition the drive before formatting the individual
partitions (only the C: partition would need the s switch if you
choose to use it, but the Win install will put that stuff on
there anyway).

Make sure you enable large drive support and use FAT32.

I know most people think I'm a little "partitioned in the head",
but I used to have 16 partitions on a 40GB drive and I was
REALLY happy. Now I have 11 on an 80 GB drive and I am MUCH less
happy, and I am in fact in the process of fixing it to my
satisfaction.

Highly recommended:

http://www.theeldergeek.com/hard_drives_01.htm



--
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is
time to pause and reflect."
- Mark Twain

Eddie wrote in
:

I am sad about this group; I hope my i.s.p carries it.

That said, I'd like to clear up something regarding 'format
c: /s'. (I believe the 'S' to be for system-files.)

In a short while I will be putting 98se on a computer using
the cab files only, and want to know if the 'S' switch is
necessary at the Format stage; some have said yes, while
others say no. What are the pro's and cons? What do
people here say?

Just in case you need a shorter answer (PCR's is excellent but a
little long and /possibly/ confusing), get a 98SE bootdisk from
somewhere on the web (like www.bootdisk.com, specifically:

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

And choose your flavor. I am /guessing/ your cabs are on a CD,
so get a bootdisk with universal CD drive support - they may
actually /all/ have it, I can't remember...

Then make the floppy bootdisk (or a booting CDR).

I WOULD strongly suggest using F-disk (it will be on the boot
disk) to partition the drive before formatting the individual
partitions (only the C: partition would need the s switch if you
choose to use it, but the Win install will put that stuff on
there anyway).

Make sure you enable large drive support and use FAT32.

I know most people think I'm a little "partitioned in the head",
but I used to have 16 partitions on a 40GB drive and I was
REALLY happy. Now I have 11 on an 80 GB drive and I am MUCH less
happy, and I am in fact in the process of fixing it to my
satisfaction.

Highly recommended:

http://www.theeldergeek.com/hard_drives_01.htm



--
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is
time to pause and reflect."
- Mark Twain

On 05/12/2010 07:20 PM, Eddie wrote:
I am sad about this group; I hope my i.s.p carries it.

That said, I'd like to clear up something regarding 'format c: /s'. (I
believe the 'S' to be for system-files.)

In a short while I will be putting 98se on a computer using the cab
files only, and want to know if the 'S' switch is necessary at the
Format stage; some have said yes, while others say no. What are the
pro's and cons? What do people here say?

Ed.


If you want to boot from the harddrive , yes

If you plan on using a boot floppy
then no

On 05/12/2010 07:20 PM, Eddie wrote:
I am sad about this group; I hope my i.s.p carries it.

That said, I'd like to clear up something regarding 'format c: /s'. (I
believe the 'S' to be for system-files.)

In a short while I will be putting 98se on a computer using the cab
files only, and want to know if the 'S' switch is necessary at the
Format stage; some have said yes, while others say no. What are the
pro's and cons? What do people here say?

Ed.


If you want to boot from the harddrive , yes

If you plan on using a boot floppy
then no