Microsoft DOS fdisk command

Syntax

Configures a hard disk for use with MS-DOS.

FDISK [/STATUS] /X

Secret fdisk switches

Disclaimer: Below is a listing of secret or undocumented MS-DOS fdisk commands and switches. Use these commands at your own risk.

Examples

Fdisk - This would get you into the fdisk option screen that you can see in the fdisk simulation. Also keep in mind when deleting a partitions ANYTHING that is on that partition of the hard drive will be ERASED, also once the partition is delete it will not be redetected until you format that partition, so if you delete your primary partition, which is the c: drive, you will not be able to put anything on that drive or even read from that drive until it is formatted.

See our fdisk simulation for additional information and examples.

Additional information

FDISK SCRIPT FILE - Fdisk has the capability of being run from an external file, allowing you to quickly create and delete partitions through Fdisk. To do this, create a file from the DOS edit command. Below are the steps required in generating this file.

Edit fdisk.scr - This will place you within the edit screen. Within this screen you will enter the commands you wish to be run in fdisk. For example, if you wish to run fdisk and display the partition information, you would enter 4.

Because fdisk requires you to press enter after you have chosen a selection, you will need to press Ctrl + P and then press Ctrl + M, which will create a music symbol, which acts as a carriage return.

If you need to press the esc key, you would use Ctrl + P and then press esc, which would be represented as a backwards arrow.

When doing the commands to run FDISK, all these must be on one line; do not place each command on separate lines.

Once you have created the script file, you can then type fdisk < fdisk.scr that will then execute the script file. If the script file encounters an error during its process, you will need to recreate the script file where the mistake occurred.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Reference Issue / Question HARD DRIVE Complete hard disk drive information and support FAT32 Additional information and help with FAT32. CHSIZE Unable to see full amount of hard drive. CH000032 Only able to see 2 Gig partition/drive. CH000175 Do you have any additional information on FDISK /MBR? CH000226 Partition shows up as a MS-DOS partition. CH000229 Invalid / Non System Disk error. CH000231 Invalid media type reading drive C: CH000340 No fixed disk present. CH000344 How to delete a partition using fdisk. CH000345 How to create a partition using fdisk. CH000355 How to lock / unlock the hard disk drive. CH000379 Error reading/writing fixed disk. CH000431 How many partitions can DOS / Windows recognize. CH000452 How to create a FAT32 partition.