Where is my space?

[void]

I recently tried formatting my C: drive as my PC was running slow. At first it would not format so i went into FDISK and deleted something (stupid i know).

After i done this it let me format c: and install windows with no problem.

Now my PC is set up into 3 partitions:
C: = 5gb
D: = 15gb
E: = 20gb

C: and D: is one HD which has been partitioned in the past.

Anyway heres my problem, my C: drive which is originally 5gb is now only 1.99gb. How can i regain my lost 3gb of space?

Im not very good with computers, i know what i know and thats it. Could i get this back easlily without having to format again?

All help appreciated, cheers :)

[Murf]

Using FDISK again get back in there. When you get to this menu:

Current fixed disk drive: 1

Choose one of the following:

1. Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive

2. Set Active Partition

3. Delete Partition or Logical DOS Drive

4. Display Partition Information

5. Change Current Fixed Disk Drive

Enter Choice (1)

Chose #1
When you select the Create DOS partitions or Logical DOS drive option, FDISK presents the following options for creating a new partition on the selected hard disk:

Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive

Current fixed disk drive: I

Choose one of the following:

1.Create Primary DOS Partition
2.Create Extended DOS Partition
3.Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition

Chose #2
Follow the screen prompts to create another partition of the unallocated space.

[void]

I tried what you said and apparently there was already an extended partition.

Like a fool i formatted my C: HD again, converted to FAT32 and still no luck :(

[mawil]

When you first ran fdisk, did you say yes to "Do you wish to enable large disk support (Y/N) . . . . . . . . . . . ?"

[void]

When you first ran fdisk, did you say yes to "Do you wish to enable large disk support (Y/N) . . . . . . . . . . . ?"

When i run FDISK, i didnt get a message saying anything about large disk support.

The boot disk im using is a Windows 95 version. Shall i get a newer version?

[mawil]

Looks like you need a W98 bootdisk. The first screen when you run fdisk should look like this:

http://www.computerhope.com/sfdisk1.htm

Saying "yes" will enable FAT32 and allow you to create partitions larger than 2 gigs.

You can get one here:

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

[void]

Right i got the newer bootdisk and said yes to larger disk support. I tried to create that extended partition but it already exists.

I reformatted c: but its still only 1.99gb.

I have a feeling iv got to play around with the partitions within fdisk again.

Do you think i will be able to fix this problem without loosing data on my d: and e: drives?

Thanx for all your help.

[mawil]

Run fdisk again and select Item 4 - Display partition information. Post back here exactly what it says.

I've never run into this before but maybe someone else here can tell you how to regain the missing 3 gigs.

It may be that you can delete the C: partition and recreate it using FAT32, but I'm not sure.

If you had a program called Partition Magic you would be able to regain your lost space, but I don't know if you can do it with fdisk without redoing the whole drive.

Anyone else have any ideas?

:)

EDIT: Was C: the drive with W98 on it? If so, it's not an extended partition. It is your Primary Dos Partition.

[void]

Sure mawil il be right back with the information from fdisk.

Wont be a sec :)

[void]

Here is the information below, please bear in mind that the c: drive used to be 5gb.

================================================== =======

Current Fixed Drive: 1
Partition Status Type Volume Label MBytes System Usage
C:1 A PRI DOS 2047 FAT32 11%
2 EXT DOS 13453 69%

Total Disk Space is 19454 Mbytes.

The Extended DOS partition contains Logical DOS drives.
Do you want to display the logical DOS drive information? [Y/N]

================================================== =======

Drv Volume Label MBytes System Usage
E: 13453 FAT32 100%

Total External DOS partition size is 13453 MBytes.

================================================== =======


Theres the information you needed mate, hope you can help me from that. :)

EDITED: It dont look right does it, but it looks fine in the reply box, sorry.

[mawil]

I think you are going to have to do as Murf said and create another partition of the unallocated space.

Or, if your E: drive is a separate HD you might be able to copy all of your files, data, etc. from your D: drive over to it and then do a complete fdisk and format of the C: and D: drives. Deleting all partitions and recreating and formatting them.

When you said you went into fdisk and deleted something, it sounds like you deleted your primary dos partition. I didn't think you could do that without first deleting the logical and extended partitions.

:confused:

EDIT: If you COULD delete the primary dos partition without first deleting the others, you could do that then run fdisk again and recreate it using large disk support and see if it would let you create the whole 5 gig partition. Of course you would have to make it active, reformat it and reinstall windows.

[jtdoom]

hi

try this...
copy over data you wanna keep to E:
boot from floppy
make one of the partitions in the extended active ( E: )
reboot from floppy
delete primary DOS partition (I think you can do it then, because it is no longer active)
again reboot from floppy
make a primary DOS using all unallocated space, or type in 4992 Mb
(5000 if you was really sure that you used 5000 in the past)

reboot from floppy, and make the primay DOS active, then again reboot, and format it, reboot, and run setup

[Alfons]

Right i got the newer bootdisk and said yes to larger disk support. I tried to create that extended partition but it already exists.

I reformatted c: but its still only 1.99gb.

I have a feeling iv got to play around with the partitions within fdisk again.

Do you think i will be able to fix this problem without loosing data on my d: and e: drives?

Thanx for all your help.
Jtdoom's approach should work, but if you've recently partitioned and formatted the whole disk there can't be much there worth saving, so here's what I'd do:

1. Using FDISK with Large Disk Support enabled, remove all partitions first. You do this by first removing the Logical Disks in the Extended Partition, then remove the Extended Partition, and finally remove the Primary Partition.

2. Now you should have the whole disk showing as unallocated space - you can check this by using menu item #4 for that disk.

3. Now you can create the partition sizes that you want - large disk support allows you to get past the 2 gig limit. First create the Primary Partition, then the Extended - this part leads you to the drive letter allocation and any further subdivision that you want in the Extended Partition. Next you will need to make the Primary Partition Active and now you can exit FDISK.

4. Restart the system with the boot disk and now you can use the FORMAT command - do NOT format without restarting.

[void]

My c: and e: drives are one hard drive. My d: drive is a seperate hard drive (confusing i know).

My d: and e: drives are full up and contain everything i need saved. My c: drive is virtually empty with windows on.

So basically i have to make c: and e: into one drive and start partitioning again?
If this is the only method then i will try that soon.

Thanx for all your help, at least you all know what your doing.

[Alfons]

My c: and e: drives are one hard drive. My d: drive is a seperate hard drive (confusing i know).

My d: and e: drives are full up and contain everything i need saved. My c: drive is virtually empty with windows on.

So basically i have to make c: and e: into one drive and start partitioning again?
If this is the only method then i will try that soon.

Thanx for all your help, at least you all know what your doing.
If you change the configuration of either of your drives without backing up the data that you want to something like CDs, another HD, or tape, you're likely to lose it all.

You should let us know what you have available for a backup media, and we can give you some advise.

[void]

I decided to go ahead with deleting all the partitions and re-creating them again.

I deleted every partition and re-created my 2 drives:
C: is 7gb
E: is 13gb
They are the outcome of it all, iv only just got the internet working again and everything is going well so far.
Thanx for all your help everyone :D

Alfons, my only means of backup is cd-rw and floppy. But everything is sorted now :)