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Frank wrote:
I'm having the worst problem here. I've been trying to partition my old hard drive, but nothing seems to work. The computer used to have Windows 3.1 and then later Windows 95. I want to install a clean Windows 98 but fdisk won't clear out the old partitions. Is my hard drive toasted? Do I have a virus or something?

Joe Responds:

Hi Frank.

Chances are you have run into the Fat16 Versus Fat32 glitch.

With Windows 3.1 And early versions of Windows 95, the hard drive is set up as Fat16. Windows 98 works best on Fat32. But a problem crops up when you use Windows 98's Fdisk program to re-partition a (previously Fat16) hard drive. Sometimes it will actually 'lock' the hard drive so that you can't do anything with it. Even your DOS-5 and/or DOS-6 disks refuse to work with the hard drive anymore.

Fortunately, there is a solution.

Floppy Disk Solution:
You will need a blank floppy disk, and a different computer from the one you are trying to fix. (No floppies laying around anymore? See CD-ROM solution, below.)
  1. Download THIS PROGRAM <——(Click on this link).
  2. Insert blank floppy disk into the floppy disk drive (...of the computer which you used to download that program).
  3. Click (or double click) on the program which you downloaded.
  4. Follow the instructions it gives you -- this will install the program on your floppy.
  5. Take the floppy to the computer which you are trying to fix.
  6. With the non-working computer turned OFF, insert floppy disk and then turn the computer ON.
The computer will now start from the floppy. A menu of items will appear. The first thing you should do is...

 • Select Item #4 on the menu (Partition Table Erase).
 • Then choose RESTART
 • On restart, select item #1 (Partition Hard Drive).
 • From there you should be able to complete your task by using your existing knowledge.


CD-ROM Solution: If you are able to burn an ISO image to a CD, you can use
THIS PROGRAM IN ISO FORMAT FOR CD <——(Click on this link)

You can email me if you are having trouble. (see link at top of this page, and another email link below.)
...Joe
DOWNLOAD FOR FLOPPY - W98INST.EXE
DOWNLOAD FOR CD-ROM - W98INST.ISO

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Page Last Updated Jan 2008