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Creating a primary partition – Epson LT-286 User Manual

Page 51

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MS-DOS cannot use more than 32MB in a single partition, so

creating an extended partition allows you to use the extra 8MB of

space.

The primary partition automatically becomes drive C. If you create

an extended partition (on either a 20MB or a 40MB hard disk), you
can make it just one drive or break it into multiple drives. Each
drive in the extended partition is assigned a drive letter, beginning

with D, and you can define how much space you want each drive to
have.

In the following procedures you’ll enter MS-DOS commands and
use the working copies of your Startup/Operating 1, Operating 2,
and Reference diskettes. If you are new to computers and MS-DOS,

this may be the first time you have used an operating system. The

steps are simple, and you should not have any problems; however, if

you do have questions, see Chapter 5 for basic information about
using MS-DOS or see your MS-DOS manual for more detailed

information about the operating system.

Creating a Primary Partition

The steps below describe how to create a primary partition of the

maximum size: 20MB on a 20MB hard disk or 32MB on a 40MB

hard disk. If you want the primary partition to be smaller, see the

instructions for FDISK in your MS-DOS manual.

1. Make sure the computer is turned off.

2. Make sure the switch marked

HDD POWER

on the back of the

computer is turned on.

3. Insert your working copy of the Startup/Operating 1 diskette

into the diskette drive.

4. Turn on the computer.

5.

Press

Enter

twice to accept the date and time shown (or enter

the date and time if they are incorrect).

Preparing the Hard Disk

for Use

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