Using FDISK with Win98 Start-Up Disk

I used Win98 Start-up Disk to do the FDISK delete partition option. It deleted the partition and created new partion of only about 2gig, now the HDD is 6gig, HOW CAN RECOVER THE OTHER 4GIG or USE FDISK AGAIN SUCH THAT IT PARTITIONS THE WHOLE 6GIG TO THE NEW PARTITION?

 

I think I know the problem. When Fdisk starts up, you get the question to enable large disk support. If you enter in N, you end up with a FAT16 file system. FAT16 partitions are limited to 2gb.
If you enter Y at the question, you are enabling the FAT32 file system, and you end up with the ability to create larger partitions.
Here is how to use fdisk and format to ready the HD for Win98.
At A:\> type fdisk enter
press "Y" enter for large disk support << Y=FAT32, N=FAT16
at FDISK Option select "1" enter
at Create DOS Partition or logical DOS Drive select "1" enter
Verifying drive integrity, **%
press "Y" enter at do you wish to use the maximum available size for Primary DOS Partition
and make the partition active (Y/N)..?
If you want to partition the disk set the size of your primary.
Verifying drive integrity, **%
you then get a message to RESTART your system for changes to take effect
To create a second partition, you must create a extended partition and then create the logical drive(s) or other partitions.
YOU MUST REBOOT and format AFTER FDISK.

 

The BIOS factor

I was watching this thread wondering if anyone would mention the effect of the BIOS on large (over 2Gig) Hard disk drives. Older mother boards were made before the technology came along to make possible the 80GB and 120 GB drives which are available these days. The good news is that nearly all MB manufacturers have websites or have sold off to companies with websites that can help you discern what Motherboard you have; give you download access to BIOS flash utilities and the most recent revision of your BIOS. If what our colleagues have counseled you to do, proves not to do the trick, this may yet slay your dragon. I'll watch with the rest to see what happens. -Good luck.

 

Another option with the older bios and larger hard drives is to use the drive overlay from the manufacture of the hard drive.

Best Regards,
Mesich

 

Hi guys I just wanted to say thanks y'all for replying, that is Christer, spaceman_spiff, mesich and markp62. Sorry I'm so late in replying back to this thread but markp62 nailed what my problem was and I did corrected to exactly what markp62 mentioned in his post.

Thanks once again y'all.