hassell@tramp.Colorado.EDU (Christopher Hassell) (09/23/89)
My system is running DOS 2.1 and Disk Manager and I want to upgrade the
DOS. I have a couple of questions.
Can I just replace the system files. Does Disk Manager do something to
the drive that makes the format incompatible with plane old DOS? Is DOS cap-
able of having partitions larger than say... 40 meg? Can I avoid having to
backup my hard drive? I want to get rid of disk manager because I have found
some incompatibilities with some of my programs but still want to access the
whole hard drive as one drive.
Thank ya kindly (this is actually for a friend... but reply here)
### C>H> ### { uunet!rutgers!sunybcs , ncar , nbires } !boulder!tramp!hassellcs4g6ag@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Stephen M. Dunn) (09/24/89)
In article <11987@boulder.Colorado.EDU> hassell@tramp.Colorado.EDU (Christopher Hassell) writes:
$ Can I just replace the system files. Does Disk Manager do something to
$the drive that makes the format incompatible with plane old DOS? Is DOS cap-
$able of having partitions larger than say... 40 meg? Can I avoid having to
$backup my hard drive? I want to get rid of disk manager because I have found
$some incompatibilities with some of my programs but still want to access the
$whole hard drive as one drive.
No, you can't just replace the system files in general. The boot sector
will likely need changing. I don't know how DM does what it does. DOS
versions prior to 4.00 are unable to handle partitions of over 32 Mb (with
the exception of some special flavours, e.g. Compaq DOS 3.31).
The only way I know of to reliably and safely upgrade your DOS version
is to back up, reformat, sys, and restore the boot drive. You must be
careful doing this, however; when you back up, make sure you boot with the
NEW DOS version, since the BACKUP/RESTORE programs for various versions of
DOS use different file formats!
I have my hard drive partitioned so that the C: drive is only about 1M;
it includes DOS, Disk Manager and drivers for the config.sys file. Should
I decide to upgrade my DOS version (but continue using Disk Manager), all
I need to do is to reformat the one partition, rather than, say, a 30 Mb
partition with DOS, Symphony, Turbo C, etc...
--
Stephen M. Dunn cs4g6ag@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca
**********************************************************************
<std_disclaimer.h> = "\nI'm only an undergraduate!!!\n";
"VM is like an orgasm: the less you have to fake, the better." - S.C.swh@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Steve Harrold) (09/25/89)
Re: Upgrading HD to newer version of MSDOS Check out the Norton Utility called "Disk Doctor" (NDD.EXE). It will condition a hard disk to receive an upgraded version of MSDOS. If necessary, it will relocate a few files to make room for the system-hidden files IBMBIO.COM and IBMDOS.COM (or whatever your manufacturer calles them). You won't have to backup/reformat or do any of these bothersome tasks.
ncanders@ndsuvax.UUCP (Carlin Anderson) (09/27/89)
Not true. The newer versions allow you to install a new version of DOS over an older one, efectively replacing the information, without backing up the hard disk, or taking any other special precautions (altho it would't be a bad idea to back the thing up just in case). I can speak from experience since this is the procedure I used when moving from 3.30 to 4.01 (IBM) I assume that MS-DOS will work in the same manner. ncanders@plains.NoDak.edu nu111783@vm1.Nodak.edu