Cannot set an installable partition with FDISK

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Symptoms

Hardware

Any

Problem

Partitions on your harddisk (for example Linux' ext2fs) may be misaligned so that it confuses FDISK. This is probably a bug in Warp.

Procedure

The FDISK included with OS/2 2.1 (or Warp Beta II) does not have this problem. If you can't get this FDISK, contact me.

There are at least four possible solutions to this problem.

1. If you have the floppy version of Warp, backup the disk containing FDISK (Diskette 1). Copy the FDISK of 2.1 onto that disk, replacing Warp's FDISK.

2. If you have the CD version of Warp, probably the easiest solution is to make the diskimages from the CD. Execute MAKEDSKS.BAT or MAKEDSKS.CMD on your CD for that. Then proceed as described above. If you're not an expert, this is the way to go. The disadvantage is that you'll need lots of floppies, and installation will take quite some time. If I were you, I would not install all bells and whistles. Once you have a minimal Warp system on your harddisk, you can install other parts directly from the CD. When Selective Install asks for a path (defaults to A:), change that to x:\OS2IMAGE, where x: is the drive letter of your CD-ROM.

3. If you have the CD version, you could also temporarily copy all the installation files to your harddisk, if you have the diskspace to spare (about 45 Mb). See these instructions for more information on how to do that. Then copy the 2.1 FDISK over the Warp FDISK (in D:\OS2IMAGE\DISK_1) and install from there. After the installation, these files can be deleted.

4. If you insist to do the installation from the CD, you don't have enough free diskspace and you're an expert, you can also use the following approach. This one worked for me. It's quite clumsy so if you know a better way, please contact me.
   • Get a good FDISK.COM from OS/2 2.1.
   • Make a diskcopy of Warp's Diskette 1 and use that backup.
   • You'll have to make some room (about 250 Kb) on it to accomodate the good FDISK. For instance, if you don't have an Adaptec SCSI card, you might want to delete the AHA*.ADD drivers from that disk. If you don't want to see the (harmless) warnings during the boot process, you should delete the corresponding entries in CONFIG.SYS as well.
   • Copy SYSINST2.EXE from the CD to the floppy. Something like: COPY x:\OS2IMAGE\DISK_1\SYSINST2.EXE A:
   • Use a binary file editor or DEBUG.EXE on this SYSINST2.EXE to change FDISK.COM (two references) to, say, FDORK.COM. (If you are not able to do this, you could ask me to send you a copy).
   • Copy the good FDISK.COM to Diskette 1 under the name FDORK.COM
   • Edit the CONFIG.SYS on Diskette 1 so that the SET PATH line now reads:

       SET PATH=A:\;\;\OS2;\OS2\SYSTEM;\OS2\INSTALL\etc.
                ^^^^ add this
     

   • Now reboot and follow the normal installation procedure. When you get to the blue installation screen (Diskette 1) where you have to choose Easy or Advanced Installation, press F3 for the command line.
   • A:
   • Execute SYSINST2.EXE. Now you get the blue installation screen again. Of course, choose Advanced Installation (since Easy Installation works OK).
   • Choose "Specify different drive/partition".
   • Now you should see the (good) FDISK being loaded from the floppy. (You get the standard warning screen, "FDISK can be dangerous" etc.)

Notes