Formatting the Primary Partition

Now that you have created drive C, the primary partition, you must format it. You can use the SELECT command to do this. SELECT automatically does the following:

•Formats the primary partition

•Allows you to assign a name (a volume label) to the partition

•Copies the MS-DOS Startup/Operating 1 files to the partition

•Creates an AUTOEXEC.BAT file in the primary partition to ensure that your computer boots MS-DOS correctly from drive C.

If you have an extended partition, use the FORMAT command to format drive D (and any additional drives in the extended partition). See “Formatting the Extended Partition,” the next section in this chapter.

After you have formatted drive C, you can boot the operating system automatically from the hard disk every time you turn on or reset your computer. You won’t have to insert an MS-DOS system diskette in drive A to load the operating system.

To format drive C, follow these steps:

1.Insert your working copy of the Startup/Operating 1 diskette into the diskette drive.

2.If you don’t see the A> prompt, type A: and press Enter.

3.At the A> prompt, type the following and press Enter:

SELECT A: C:\DOS 001 US

Note

001 and US are the country code and keyboard code for the United States. If you want to substitute other codes, see your MS-DOS manual.

Preparing the Hard Disk for Use

3-7