How to change Linux Partion to FAT32

gardenair · 03-24-2005, 04:30 AM

I have a 10 GB hard Disk (Mandrake Linux 10) is install on it. Now i want to change the Hard Disk
file system to FAT32 & make new partion for windows98.
I used a bootable disk & write Fdisk at the prompt.
An error message appears
FDISK
error reading Fixed Disk.

OK i use a RED HAT linux8 disk 1 & and press F5 (Linux Rescue)

and then after checking the CD apper

-/bin/sh-2.05b#
I write Fdisk at # i.e
-/bin/sh-2.05b# fdisk /dev/hda
command (m for help): m
command action

then manue of option appears from a to z
i choose d (Delete partition)

command (m for help) : d
partition number (1-4) :

Here i don't know what to do !

plz guide me that how can i formate the Hard dsik for windows FAT32.

Thanks

gardenair · 03-24-2005, 05:11 AM

i just want to change Linux partion to FAT32 .PLz guide me how ?

harken · 03-24-2005, 05:36 AM

Try using cfdisk instead and you have the "Type" option where you can change the filesystem type. Or you can use 'mkdosfs -F 32'. However, you weren't very explicit about what you want to do. You want to change the entire 10 GB HD to fat32 or only a partition of it? If you change it all it's possible to destroy the data on it.

gardenair · 03-24-2005, 05:39 AM

cfdisk does't work after

-/bin/sh-2.05b#cfdisk

linux does't accept it .
Now guid eme taht how can i doy it ?

gardenair · 03-24-2005, 05:41 AM

i want to delete all data & make it a new HD of FAT32 .

aus9 · 03-24-2005, 05:47 AM

w98 uses info from the mbr and in particular dos expects to see a BOOTABLE flag and should be C drive.

1 zero the mbr
zeroing is done is the terminal off the knoppix cd or if you have NOT downloaded one, use toms boot disk

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda bs=512 count=1
this deletes all flags and gives you a blank partition table.

2 if you have knoppix cd then boot it and use graphical program QTPARTED to make nice sizes for your MS

3 reboot and insert w98 cd.

##########make sure you have got all dox burnt or saved of your mdk system

kevinatkins · 03-24-2005, 05:48 AM

Hi,

if you just want to delete all the data and start again, easiest thing would be to just grab the Win 98 install disk and install Windows - this will automatically format the whole disk and put Windows on the partition. If you then want to install Mandrake again, alongside Windows, use the Mandrake installer to resize the new Windows partition and install Mandrake. This is the best way of doing it - if you attempt to install Windows after Mandrake, the Master Boot Record will be rewritten by the Microsoft installer and you won't be able to boot Mandrake!