KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q71812: UNFORMAT Does Not Work on Disk Manager Partition

Article: Q71812
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 19-NOV-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system version 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Because MS-DOS recognizes only up to 1024 cylinders on a physical hard drive,
the MS-DOS 5.0 UNFORMAT command restores only partitions at or under the 1024
cylinder limit. It does not restore a partition created using Ontrack Computer
Systems' Disk Manager if that partition spans the 1024 cylinder boundary on a
physical hard drive.

MORE INFORMATION
================

If a partition created using third-party partitioning software spans the 1024
cylinder boundary, it will not be restorable using the MS-DOS UNFORMAT command
unless the device driver accompanying the software is first loaded. For example,
it is possible to restore such a partition created using SpeedStor because its
drivers, HARDRIVE.SYS or SSTOR.SYS, can be loaded whether or not a SpeedStor
partition is present.

However, Disk Manager's driver, DMDRVR.BIN, does not load unless there is a Disk
Manager partition detected. Because DMDRVR.BIN does not load, UNFORMAT cannot
look beyond the 1024 cylinder boundary; therefore, you cannot use UNFORMAT to
restore the partition.

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft;
we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance
or reliability.

Additional query words: 5.00

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS500
Version           : MS-DOS:5.0

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

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.