jack.lupic@canremote.uucp (JACK LUPIC) (10/24/89)
< Message entered 1989 10 21 11:21 > hD> My system is running DOS 2.1 and Disk Manager and I want to hD>upgrade the DOS. I have a couple of questions. hD> Can I just replace the system files. Does Disk Manager do hD>something to the drive that makes the format incompatible with plane hD>old DOS? Is DOS cap- able of having partitions larger than say... 40 hD>meg? Can I avoid having to backup my hard drive? I want to get rid hD>of disk manager because I have found some incompatibilities with hD>some of my programs but still want to access the whole hard drive as hD>one drive. First of all you have not given enough details about your friend's system. To upgrade you DOS,especially the System Files (IBMBIO.com/IBMDOS.com) you have to remove the Sytem/Hidden/Read-Only attributes.Then with a new DOS diskette in Drive A:\ overwrite the old files on the hard drive with new ones.Don't forget to copy new Command.com over to drive C:\.Then delete the old files from the DOS subdirectory and copy the new DOS files there.That is ALL there is to it except if you are upgrading to DOS 4.0 then you would have to reformat the hard drive and start from the begining. I used the DISK MANAGER since my old Western Digital controller did not have the drive tables for my ST251-1 Seagate drive. After upgrading the controller bios with a NEW Super Bios Chip the Disk Manager joined the garbage heap.Don't forget that if you insist on using Disk Manager with say DOS 4.0 then you will most likely have to get a new Disk Manager version.Note that if you get rid of Disk Manager you will have to reformat the hard drive,make backups first. Why do you need a 40Meg partition?Why not create 2-20Meg partitions? If you want one whole partition then you have to use either Compaq DOS 3.3 or PC/MS DOS 4.0 and you will have to use Share and then you are looking for lot more problems (Share is also incompatable with a few programs). Summary: 1.Backup your drive 2.Low level format the drive 3.With MS DOS 3.3 create 2-20 meg partitions (Fdisk) 4.Copy system/dos files to the hard drive 5.You are ready to roll If you have any additional questions do not hesitate to ask but provide more details about the system/DOS type. --- ~ DeLuxe 1.11a10 #1435 Regards,Jack Lupic,Scarborough,Ontario,CANADA