In Windows 98, how do I use Fdisk to create a single FAT16 partition on a hard drive smaller than 2GB?

In Windows 98, how do I use Fdisk to create a single FAT16 partition on a hard drive smaller than 2GB?


Note: Windows 2000 and XP Professional are the only Windows operating systems recommended for use on the Indiana University network. For more information, see For Windows computers on the IU network, why does UITS recommend Windows 2000 or XP Professional? Because of security enhancements to the IU network in May 2006, Windows 95, 98, 98SE, and Me computers can no longer authenticate to ADS, print to some network printers in departments and campus housing, or map drives to other computers.

Warning: The use of Fdisk will permanently erase all data from the drive or drives on which it is used. You should only attempt this procedure if you have a fairly high level of computer literacy. If you follow these instructions incorrectly you could lose data or cause your computer not to function properly.
The steps listed below are for creating a single FAT16 partition on a hard drive that is 2.1GB or smaller. FAT16 is primarily designed for DOS, Windows 3.1, and Windows 95, whereas FAT32 is designed primarily for Windows 98.
The Windows 98 startup disk also includes CD-ROM support for the most common CD-ROM drives. This allows access to the CD-ROM drive during installation, which makes installing the operating system and additional programs more manageable. While it is easier to use a Windows 98 startup disk because of the CD-ROM driver support, you can also use any Windows 95 emergency disk, instead. Some proprietary CD-ROM drives do not work with the Windows 98 floppy disk. Known problems occur with many Packard Bell models as well as many older computer models.
Test your Windows 98 startup disk: Power off your computer and insert the Windows 98 startup disk into the floppy drive. Turn the computer on.
You should see a menu with the option to boot with CD-ROM support. Select this option.
At the A:\> prompt, enter: fdisk
The following information will appear on your screen: Your Computer has a disk larger than 512MB. This version of Windows includes support for large disks, resulting in more efficient use of disk space on large drives, and allowing disks over 2GB to be formatted as a single drive. Important: If you enable large disk support and create any new drives on this disk, you will not be able to access the new drives using other operating systems, including some versions of Windows 95 and Windows NT, as well as earlier versions of Windows 95 and MS-DOS. In addition, disk utilities that were not designed explicitly for the FAT32 file system will not be able to work with this disk. If you need access to this disk with other operating systems or older disk utilities, do not enable large disk support. Do you wish to enable large disk support(Y/N)........? (N)Type n and then press Enter. After Fdisk has started, the following screen will be displayed:
A:\> fdisk Microsoft Windows 98 Fixed Disk Setup Program
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp. 1983 - 1998 FDISK Options Current fixed disk
drive: 1 Choose one of the following: 1. Create DOS partition or Logical DOS
Drive 2. Set active partition 3. Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive 4.
Display partition information 5. Change current fixed disk drive Enter choice
(1) Press Esc to exit FDISK A:\>
Note: Option 5, "Change current fixed disk drive", will only appear if the computer has two or more hard drives.

Choose option 1, "Create DOS partition or Logical DOS drive", and press Enter. The next screen should display the following:
Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive Current fixed disk
drive: 1 Choose one of the following: 1. Create Primary DOS Partition 2.
Create Extended DOS Partition 3. Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended
DOS Partition Enter choice (1) Press Esc to return to FDISK Options
Choose option 1, "Create Primary DOS Partition", and press Enter.


Note: A message may appear on the screen stating that Fdisk is verifying disk integrity. There will be a percentage gauge indicating what percent of the disk has been checked. This can take from a few seconds to a minute or two, depending on the speed of the computer and the size of the hard drive. The next screen should look like the following:
Create Primary DOS Partition Current fixed disk
drive: 1 Do you wish to use the maximum available size for a Primary DOS
Partition and make the partition active (Y/N).............. [Y] Press Esc to
continue
Press y to use the maximum available size for a Primary DOS Partition and to make the partition active.

Note: Fdisk may again verify disk integrity.

The next screen should display the following:
You MUST restart your system for your changes to take effect. Any drives you have
created or changed must be formatted after you restart. Shut down Windows
before restarting Press Esc to exit Fdisk
Note: Older versions of Fdisk may lack this message.

Exit Fdisk by pressing Esc, and then restart the computer.
Press Esc. This will return you to the A:\ prompt.
Make sure that the Windows 98 emergency disk is still in the floppy drive, and restart the computer.
The computer should reboot to the A:\ prompt. When you arrive at the DOS prompt, you can use the format command to format your hard disk drives. At the A:\ prompt, enter: format X:
Replace X: with the name of the drive that you want to format.

Format will ask you if you're sure you wish to continue. By this time, the data stored previously has been destroyed, so press y .
Following these steps will create a single partition the size of the entire hard drive up to 2.1GB.