Windows 32-bit disk access, High-level formatting

Medalist SL Family Installation Guide, November 1995	23

High-level formatting

High-level formatting (henceforth referred to as formatting) builds the file allocation table (FAT) DOS uses to access files on the drive. If you put more than one partition on the drive, you must format each partition. Use the DOS FORMAT utility to format the drive as follows:

1.Type the following command at the DOS prompt: format drive: /v /s

drive: designates the drive you are formatting. If you are formatting the boot drive or if your system contains only one drive, type c:. To format a second drive, type d:.

/ v tells the computer to create a volume label for the partition after it is formatted. Labeling can prevent someone from accidentally deleting the partition and losing your data.

/s tells the computer to copy the system files to the drive to make it bootable.

2.When the computer prompts you for a volume label, you can assign a name to the drive volume of up to eleven characters or leave it blank. Press ENTER.

Windows 32-bit disk access

If Windows enables the 32-bit disk access during its installation, an error message appears when Windows loads after you have installed a drive with more than 528 Mbytes. The Windows 32-bit disk access driver must be turned off for you to open and use Windows. Use the Seagate replacement driver, SEG32BIT.386, to restore 32-bit disk access capability. To open Windows and restore 32-bit disk access:

1.Press ENTER to open Windows.