madsen@vijit.UUCP (Dave Madsen) (10/14/87)
I was wondering how you access multiple hard disk partitions on a pc/clone, and if it can be done without re-booting. For example, I use a non-IBM compatible (but still running MSDOS) machine. Partitions are created/maintained/destroyed using programs distributed by Wang (the PC hardware mfr). After creation, each partition is formatted (using the format program) and occupies a single drive letter. Thus, I have partition C & D set up for Xenix (DOS won't go there), and E through J as DOS partitions (G is my PCDOS partition). I can access each partition from DOS (again, except Xenix) without rebooting. So although I've sliced up my disk for easier backup, organization, and reduced cluster size, I really have the whole thing available all the time. When I boot, a "master" boot program comes up that asks which partition I want to really boot from. I can then boot from Xenix, MSDOS, or PCDOS (via compatibility hardware) depending on what partition I select. I believe that the "master" boot program just reads the boot from whatever partition you select, and you're off. This master boot is stored in an "invisible" 64K (one cylinder, I think) partition at the front of the disk. The PROMS that read this "master" boot do not need to know that the disk is partitioned. I have never worked on a "real" pc/clone, and so I just don't know how this kind of thing is done there. I'm in the market for a clone, and I would like to have the kind of functionality that I've described above. Am I dreaming or is this a commonplace thing in the "real" pc world? ALSO I'd like to have some flavor of Unix co-reside (on the same disk) with DOS and hopefully allow allow Unix to read/write files on the DOS partition(s). Do I need a 386 with DOSMerge (or equivalent) for this? (I know that this is kinda a "dumb" question, so be gentle...) Dave Madsen ---dcm ihnp4!vijit!madsen or vijit!madsen@gargoyle.uchicago.edu