I used Knoppix (Live CD V4.0.2) "cfdisk" utility to create 3 primary partitions on a 40 GB HD, there primary partitions are:

1- 15 GB NTFS

2- 5 GB FAT32

3- 20 GB NTFS

I did write (Knoppix option), and I restarted the PC.

When I booted the PC with XP CD (to install OS XP )..

XP did not recongnize the format of all there partitions,,,,Why?

I do not if it is related to knoppix, or XP CD ?

cfdisk can create partitions and label them with an fs name. It cannot create file systems. You need to use a specific tool to do that: mkfs
My guess is windows has checked the actual file system and not only the label and so doesn't see what you think should be there.

>XP did not recongnize the format of all there partitions,,,,Why?


Cfdisk is simply used to make partitions.
It doesn't format them with a file system. (as already said.)

What you can do is simply create the partitions, and when you put in the XP Disk, you can format the parition you want with NTFS, using the XP disk.
This will also exclude any errors you might have to face after you format with NTFS from a Linux Disk.


XP needs to write some files on the File system..and i don't know what is the exact cause of the error, but sometimes, XP refused to even format that parition already formatted with NTFS from a Linux CD.


Also, if you don't tend to install Linux, then why don't you use only the XP CD?
You can use the XP CD to create a partition to install Windows on, and then once windows is successfully installed, you can create the partitions using the GUI tools -- Disk Management, available under Windows.

What I meant here I chose the option "Type" available under cfdisk to choose the partition type.

My answer will be same as above.


This question came to my mind that: cfdisk just create the partition but there is no option for formating.

Now my confusion what is the point of choosing "Type" option under cfdisk (like 0C for NTFS, BF for Solaris, 07 for whatever------etc) ?


Do you mean I can format the prtition with NTFS by using Linux CD ?

What will the case be if I create partitions "Type"
a- Solaris (BF)
b- Linux swap (83)
c- Linux ext3 (82)
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do I need to format them in order to be recognized by Solaris OS or Linux OS ?

It depends on what you mean by 'recognizing' If you want linux or solaris to be able to write to them (or read from them) you'll first have to format. However, if you creat a partition with a fstype label any linux installation program will recognize the label and many will offer you the possibility of formatting that partition with the preselected fs type.

I'm not sure about this, but maybe mkfs needs the label to be set before creating the file system.

What I meant by this:

1- I created 3 partitions of "Type" (0C for NTFS, 70 for FAT32,,,I do not remember the right Hexadecimal number) by using "cfdisk" (Knoppix CD)utility.

2- I restarted the PC by using XP CD (not Knoppix),,,XP CD was telling me that these partitions of type "unknown" .

A- my query is: if I created the same thing but different "Type" (i.e BF or 83 or 83 I do not remember the right Hexadecimal number),,,as you know these type for Solaris, Linux swap or Linux ext3.

B- If I restart my PC by using Linux CD1 or Solaris CD1,,,do the same thing (unknow) as XP will happen to me ?

1 -

2 As I explained before, XP could see there was a partition, but rather than believeing what the label said it checked the actual file system ... which didn't exist. However, it recognised the partition as existing and available. If the partition had been labelled as ext2, ext3 or any other non windows file system chances are XP would not have acepted the partition as something it could use.

I do not understand what you ask in A

B - no. solaris linux will recognise the label, but will need to create the file system before being able to write to the partition.

Yes. it is.

Also, if you are using Knoppix, why do you want to go through all this hassle?

Use a very powerful GUI based tool called QT-parted.

spot on! QTparted will not only create partitions but also file systems.
However, I don't think it's able to create ntfs file systems

QTparted can create NTFS partitions

I learn something new every day

I created another 4 primary partitons on second HD,,,,I labeled them as :

1- Solaris BF.

2- FAT32.

3- Linux swap 83.

4- Linux ext3 82.

Solaris CD1 did not recongnize these label,,,it read them as "unknown",,,,like XP had done.

Do you get my point from the above ?

my bad! linux works for me in this case. Don't have much experience with solaris though...