Note: If you are using Windows 98 and a hard disk of over 64GB you will need to download this file and use it to replace your older version of FDISK. The old version of FDISK can be found in the C:/windows/command directory or on your boot disk if you are using one.

Users of older versions of Windows will need to use the FDISK utility to partition the drive and assign it a drive letter so Windows can format it.

Read this section carefully, as it is quite easy to erase your existing partitions with FDISK if you are not sure of what you are doing.

The best way to run the FDISK program is from a clean DOS boot, and the easiest way to boot to DOS, assuming you are using Windows 98/ME, is to boot from the operating system CD-ROM. If your computer is not set up to boot from the CD first, you can change it in the BIOS by typing 'del' upon restarting the computer and changing the boot order under the 'advanced BIOS features' menu.

Creating a windows 9x/ME boot floppy if necessary

The second best way to do this procedure is to create a floppy boot disk. This is necessary for Windows 95 users, as the CD is not bootable, and can be a useful thing to have around for all other users. While it is completely possible to create a boot disk from inside any version of Windows 9x/ME, in some cases this disk may not contain all the utilities and drivers that you will need.

Fortunately, many third-party websites can provide the disk images necessary to make your own complete boot disk for just about any operating system.

Bootdisk.com is an excellent example, and their selection of disk images can be found here. Simply download the file appropriate for your operating system, insert a blank 1.44MB floppy disk and double click the file. You now have a bootable floppy.

Partitioning and formatting

To Boot from the CD boot the computer with the CD in the drive and choose option 2. Start the computer with CD-ROM support, and when the command prompt shows up, assuming your Windows directory is on drive C:, type:

'C:'
'cd windows'
'cd command'
'fdisk'

The other way is to boot from the floppy disk and choose start computer without CD-ROM support. At the command prompt type: 'fdisk' to start the FDISK program.