Micro Solutions, Inc. | Go Back | Tech Support | Home Page | Document # 2305 Partitioning, formatting and performing image transfers to Backpack Hard Drives All models of Backpack Hard Drives are manufactured with a valid partition table. This partition table is recognized by DOS, Windows, Windows 95/98, Windows NT4 and Windows 2000. Additional partitioning or formatting is not necessary under any of these compatible operating systems. If the partition table on your Backpack Hard Drive becomes damaged or corrupt, it can be replaced by running the DOS partitioning program included on the Backpack Hard Drive installation diskette. To replace the partition table on the Backpack Hard Drive, follow these steps with the Backpack properly connected to a computer's parallel port running DOS or a computer running Windows 95/98 booted in "Command Prompt Only" mode (one of the Windows 95/98 Startup options accessible by pressing F8 before Windows loads). These steps can also be taken on any system booted with a DOS boot disk. If applicable, be sure to remove the password from the Backpack Hard Drive prior to making any partition table changes. Resetting Original Backpack Partitions This procedure is valid with Backpack Hard Drive installation software version 2.02 or later. For Backpack Hard Drives that included installation software prior to version 2.02, the latest 16-bit driver for Backpack Hard Drive should be obtained from the Software Library of Micro Solutions' web site under filename: BPHD_DOS.EXE. That 16-bit driver must be used with the following Backpack Hard Drive partitioning routine: WARNING: FOLLOWING THESE STEPS WILL COMPLETELY AND IRREVERSABLY ERASE ALL DATA ON THE BACKPACK HARD DRIVE. Boot your computer to a DOS C: prompt: Insert the Backpack Hard Drive installation diskette (must be version 2.02 or later) into the A: drive. Change to the A: drive by typing: A: Load the Backpack device driver by typing: A:\UTILITY\DEVICE=A:\BPHDDRV.SYS (if using 2.02 software) DEVICE=BPHDDRV.SYS (if using 2.03 or later software) Run the Backpack Hard Drive partitioning program by typing: SETUP (if using 2.03 or later software) INSTALL (if using 2.02 software) Choose the EDIT PARTITION TABLE option from the opening menu. Once the partition(s) is set, select Q to quit the program. Select WRITE UPDATED PARTITION TABLE. The Backpack Hard Drive will now have a partition table that is recognized by DOS, Windows, Windows 95/98, Windows NT4 and Windows 2000. The Backpack does not need to be reformatted after using the Backpack partitioning program. FDISK, FAT32, and NTFS FDISK or other partitioning programs should only be used by experienced computer professionals. These types of programs have the potential to cause system-wide data loss. Note: You can only have a Hard Drive partition larger than 2GB in Win95(OSR2), Win98, WinNT4 and Win2000. If you want to make a 3.1GB(or larger) Backpack Hard Drive one single partition, you must use the appropriate Backpack 32-bit driver and use the partition table editor (FDISK) from Win95(OSR2), Win98, WinNT4 or Win2000. Backpack's Partition Table Editor, which runs in DOS, cannot create or use a Backpack partition larger than 2GB. Windows 95 (OSR2) and Windows 98 ship with a version of FDISK that can utilize the FAT32 file system. This version of FDISK can be used to partition a Backpack Hard Drive. The Micro Solutions Backpack 32-bit driver must be installed in order for FDISK to recognize the Backpack Hard Drive. This 32-bit driver is automatically installed under Windows 95/98 with Backpack Hard Drive installation diskettes version 2.03 or later. The 32-bit driver can also be downloaded from the Micro Solutions web site under the filename similar to PNPxxxx.EXE. Once that Backpack driver is installed, the following change may be needed in order for FDISK to recognize the Backpack Hard Drive. Use this option to select the Backpack drive for partitioning: Choose: START - SETTINGS - CONTROL PANEL - SYSTEM - select the DEVICE MANAGER tab - double click on DISK DRIVES - double click on BACKPACK HARD DRIVE - choose the SETTINGS tab - select the INT13 option - choose OK - restart the system. After selecting the INT 13 option, Windows 95/98's FDISK program will provide a 5th option called CHANGE CURRENT FIXED DISK DRIVE. Reboot after enabling that option. IMPORTANT: Before partitioning with FDISK from within Win95 or Win98, access all Backpack partitions within Windows Explorer or My Computer. This allows Windows 95/98 to automatically detect the size of each partition. ie. Open and close each Backpack drive letter before you run FDISK. When FDISK is run, you will be prompted with a message asking if you wish to enable "large disk support" (FAT32). FAT32 allows smaller cluster sizes for large hard drives. When enabling large disk support and creating a new partition on the Backpack Hard Drive, it is important to note the following: * Backpack will not be readable under DOS, Windows 3.x, original Windows 95 or under Windows NT4. * Backpack will only be readable under Win95 (OSR2), Win98, and Win2000. In addition, disk utilities that were not designed for the FAT32 file system will not recognize the Backpack Hard Drive's FAT32 partitions. If you need to access the Backpack Hard Drive with other operating systems or older disk utilities, do not enable FAT32 partitioning. Once FDISK has completed, the Backpack Hard Drive will have to be formatted before data can be stored on it. If you have put FAT32 partition(s) on the Backpack Hard Drive and want to reset partitioning so that Backpack is readable under other operating systems, use version 2.03 of the Backpack Hard Drive's 16-bit driver (available under filename BPHD_DOS.EXE on the Micro Solutions web site) and follow the "Resetting Original Backpack Partitions" procedure mentioned earlier. Windows NT4 can use the FAT or NTFS file systems. NTFS is used for large hard drive support and added security features. An NTFS partition can be put on a Backpack Hard Drive but will be valid under Windows NT only. If you choose to use NTFS partitioning on a Backpack it is important to note the following: * Backpack will not be readable under DOS, Windows 3.x, Win95 (OSR2) or Win98. * Backpack will only be readable under WinNT4 and Win2000. Always begin by obtaining and installing the latest revision of Backpack Hard Drive software. The filename to install is similar to: PNPxxxx.EXE. To properly repartition a Backpack Hard Drive, use Disk Administrator located in NT's Administrative Tools. Change the view to Disk Configuration from the VIEW menu at the top. On computers with one Physical Hard Drive, the Backpack will be listed as DISK1. You must first delete all current partitions on the Backpack Hard Drive by highlighting the Backpack drives one at a time and selecting PARTITION-DELETE. Once this is complete, the Backpack Hard Drive will appear as: Free Space xxx mb. Now you are ready to create a new partition. Select PARTITION-CREATE and enter the amount of space for the first partition. Do the same for any other free space areas on the Backpack Hard Drive. The Backpack partitions should now have drive letters assigned to them and be listed as Unformatted. To apply the changes select PARTITION-COMMIT CHANGES NOW. The Backpack is ready to be formatted. In Disk Administrator, highlight the partition to be formatted and select TOOLS-FORMAT. First choose which file system you want on this partition. Make sure to check the option QUICK FORMAT. This will save a lot of unnecessary time. Finally, choose start. Repeat these steps for any other Backpack Hard Drive partitions listed as UNFORMATTED. If you have put an NTFS partition on the Backpack Hard Drive and want to replace the partition with one that is valid under other operating systems, follow the steps detailed in "Resetting Original Backpack Partitions" mentioned earlier in this document. Norton Ghost Norton Ghost is a program distributed by Symantec Corp. (http://www.symantec.com) that allows hard drive mirroring or cloning. At the time of this writing, Ghost has two options for mirroring a hard drive. They are "Disk to Image" and "Partition to Image." If you are going to use Ghost to transfer data to a Backpack Hard Drive, use either of the "Image" options. Using the "Disk to Disk" or "Partition to Partition" options may corrupt the partition table on the Backpack Hard Drive. If this happens, download the latest version of the Backpack Hard Drive's 16-bit driver (available under filename BPHD_DOS.EXE on the Micro Solutions web site) and follow the procedure mentioned earlier for Resetting Original Backpack Partitions. | SUPPORT | DOWNLOADS |