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Q155349: "Invalid Media" Error Message Formatting FAT32 Partition

Article: Q155349
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): diskmem win95 kbDiskMemory
Last Modified: 27-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows 95 
- Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release, version 2.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you try to format a FAT32 file system partition larger than 8025 MB from
within Windows 95, you may receive the following error message

  Verifying <xxx.xx>M
  Invalid media or track 0 bad-disk unusable
  Format terminated

where <xxx.xx> is the size of the partition.

CAUSE
=====

This error occurs if there is a non-DOS partition preceding the extended DOS
partition and the primary DOS partition has been formatted using the real-mode
FORMAT.EXE command.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this issue, format the volume using the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, click Shut Down, click Restart The Computer In MS-DOS
  Mode, and then click Yes.

2. Type the following command and then press ENTER

  " format <drive>: " (without the quotation marks)

  where <drive> is the drive letter for the partition you want to format.

3. When the partition is formatted, type "exit" (without the quotation marks) to
  restart Windows 95.

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Keywords          : diskmem win95 kbDiskMemory 
Technology        : kbWin95search kbOPKSearch kbZNotKeyword3
Version           : WINDOWS:95

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