PDA

Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : Can I create a larger DOS partition?

Key
June 14th, 2001, 04:05 AM
I work with a DOS program which is starting to have trouble with space.
Is there a way to create a FAT16 partition that is larger than 2047Mb?
I can create multiple partitions but this doesn't help.
AlienDyne
June 14th, 2001, 06:51 AM
There's only one way: Use a Disk Manager.
Although I hate Disk Manager software, this is the only thing you can do. Go to your HDD manufacturer's webpage and download it.

Hope this helps!
Gabriel
June 14th, 2001, 07:23 AM
You can create it but DOS won't Support it (as to my humble opinion).
The only OS that will support it - Windows NT family.

It can Be created Either By Disk Administrator, Windows NT Setup - Or even by a third party Utils Such as PowerQuest's Partition Magic.

Hope I helped
Gabriel
AHTTech
June 14th, 2001, 09:18 AM
Check to see if there is a BIOS update for the system that supports greater than 2MB partitions. Just had to do that to a Gateway I was replacing hard drives in.
Archer
June 14th, 2001, 10:18 AM
Nop fraid not 16bit only supports 2Gb partitions.
What app are you having problems with that needs all this space on one partiton?
Platypus
June 14th, 2001, 10:35 AM
I don't know if FreeDOS would support your app, but it appears to offer >8G LBA and 4G partitions.
http://www.freedos.org/

If the program is filling up the drive with huge numbers of small files, this would only be a partial help as a 4G partition will have 64K clusters.

How version sensitive is the program? Would it run on a FAT32 partition under DOS7, or does it do some low level drive access?
Key
June 16th, 2001, 07:23 AM
The software is custom written for our customers. It utilises two partitions a 2Gb C: drive and a 2Gb D: drive. The D: drive is where I am having the problem. The software links into a phone system and the D: drive saves any phone numbers that call in and any additional info they associate with that customer. I have some customers with over 100,000 numbers saved, which is filling the partition and corrupts the software. I'm going to try some of your ideas, and I'll keep you informed, cheers ta...
Key
June 16th, 2001, 07:49 AM
I forgot to mention, the C: drive has to be Fat16. The D: drive can be anything at all, as long as DOS 6.22 can read it. It is used for staorage only and the software reads the information from here...
Platypus
June 16th, 2001, 04:35 PM
Unfortunately DOS 6.22 is not FAT32 aware. Can you do a test install of the software on another machine? If so, maybe try formatting it up and transferring the system from a DOS 7 boot disk made on a Win95B or 98 machine, keep C: FAT16 but make D: a FAT32 partition and see what the program does?
Key
June 16th, 2001, 05:33 PM
Platypus; if I understand you correct. I can do a test install. I've created a blank FAT16 disk and a blank FAT32 disk. The FAT16
boots fine but, as suspected will not see the FAT32 disk. The other suggestions listed above have not worked.
I have not tried the FREEDOS, but that would mean reloading over 800 national customers!! (but if need be so be it, they will all get this problem in time) and I've not tried Partition magic yet. I'm trying to get a trial or demo version.
Archer
June 16th, 2001, 06:45 PM
Is it not possible to spread the database over two partitions somehow,with some extra programming maybe,putting A-M on one and N-Z on the other or am I being to simplistic ?
Key
June 17th, 2001, 01:33 PM
Andi, reprogramming the software is an option, but I was hoping for something a little simpler, as this is not that straight forward. I'm going to buy a copy of partition magic tomorrow and see if that will help.
bdunn
June 18th, 2001, 03:34 PM
You can reformat the drive with smaller clusters using format /z which will give you some space by cutting down on slack space but I don't know if that will help too much.
Joker1
June 18th, 2001, 09:23 PM
Originally posted by key:
<STRONG>Platypus; if I understand you correct. I can do a test install. I've created a blank FAT16 disk and a blank FAT32 disk. The FAT16
boots fine but, as suspected will not see the FAT32 disk. The other suggestions listed above have not worked.
I have not tried the FREEDOS, but that would mean reloading over 800 national customers!! (but if need be so be it, they will all get this problem in time) and I've not tried Partition magic yet. I'm trying to get a trial or demo version.</STRONG>

Did you use the sys c:\ command on the floppy to make the c:\ boot with the updated version of dos?
Platypus
June 19th, 2001, 04:33 PM
Yes, as Joker1 indicates, you will have to use DOS 7 on the C: drive to run the program as well as from the floppy to partition the drives. You won't be able to use DOS 6.22 as it will not see the FAT32 partition as a DOS partition. Under DOS7, if the program just uses the normal DOS INT26 services to access the drive, these are FAT32 aware.

If you are booting to DOS7 off the hard drive, and it's the program that can't see D: then you'll have to try another alternative.

Happy hunting.
Pfred
June 20th, 2001, 12:40 AM
I realize that this isn't really an answer, more of what you probly already know & are dreading: seeing as how new systems don't come with compatibble OS's to your current version of software, an update to current OS's is certainly in order. Without knowing much more about the software [ you did mention a rewrite of sorts was to be avoided], I'm not sure what we really can do to help you out of this problem.

What about restricting the volume of data that you are willing to store for your clients? I'm sure this will be a VERY sensitive issue.