I'm not sure if i'm using the wrong syntax or what the dilly. I have a fat 16 partition thats hoggin like 3 gigs of space on my hd and I can't for the life of me figure out how to format this for linux. The following is the error I get in terminal after I execute the write command

Command (m for help): w
The partition table has been altered!

Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.

WARNING: Re-reading the partition table failed with error 16: Device or resource busy.
The kernel still uses the old table.
The new table will be used at the next reboot.
Syncing disks.


Stumped, please help

Hi,

It looks like output from 'fdisk' - a disk partitioning tool.
(After reboot the new partitions should be ready.)
But you still need to "format" (make filesystems on) the partition(s), before you can use them.
This is done with 'mkfs' and NOT 'fdisk'.

For the (old) native Linux filesystem ext2 do:
mke2fs /dev/hd*
For the (new) native Linux filesystem (with journal) etx3 do:
mke2fs -j /dev/hd*

Peace!
Carsten B. Jensen