Re: But ....

[Pietro Cagnoni <pcagnoni@mclink.net>]

shyamk@eth.net wrote:
> 
> Still Mr. fips is not happy . He says that the last cylinder is still not free .
> 
> Is there any way of installing Linux onto a FAT (Win 98) part. , without standing the
> risk of losing data (either of the disk or of the partition ) ?
> Thanks ,
> (shyamk@eth.net)

this worked for me many times:

1) disable virtual memory (control panel -> system -> performance);

2) reboot in maintenance mode (or whatever is called in english: in
italian is "Modalità provvisoria": 640x480 screen with very few colors);

3) run "defrag /q" from a dos window (/q means "don't defrag the files,
just put all them on the front": much quicker; very hidden flag, very
useful information!);

4) look at the details and check all the colored little squares to be
sure the bottom part gets empty;

5) when defrag has done, put the fips floppy in, push reset (no clean
shutdown!) and reboot with fips;

6) repartition;

7) reboot w9x and scandisk, just to be sure;

8) you did it!

i made that way at least 5 times, never lost anything. YMMV of course!
keep a backup copy as recommended!

hope it helps.

pietro.