VOGONS


First post, by blakespot

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So, I have a corrupt volume label on the HD I am trying to setup in my 486 box. The solution for this is, apparently, to use LABEL.EXE to remove (or rename) the volume label and then FDISK can deal with the partition.

I have the three DOS 6.22 install floppies, but not working HD, so I can't "install" it anywhere. I note that on disk 2 is LABEL.EX_. I copied this to another floppy, renaming it LABEL.EXE and when I run it, the system just freezes. Are the .XX_ files compressed? If so, how can I get to a working ver of LABEL without a HD to install DOS on?

Can anyone help me in some way, here? Thanks much.

bp

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Reply 1 of 9, by Stiletto

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Yes. You run a MS-DOS command called EXPAND to extract *.??_ files, such as *.ex_ files, usually.

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Reply 2 of 9, by Jorpho

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It's also supported by a large number of archive utilities. (Universal Extractor is the first one that comes to mind.)

Reply 3 of 9, by blakespot

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So, I got access to LABEL.EXE and ran it. It reports that it cannot rename the C: volume. The C: volume is named [smileyface]S, and as such, I can't delete the partition or format it with FDISK.

So...what can I use to "blow it away" and "start fresh" on this HD? Is low-level format the right term? This is a SCSI disk right now on a DPT SCSI controller.

Thanks...

bp

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:: See a panorama of my own Byte Cellar (a.k.a. basement computer room)...
:: twitter: @blakespot

Reply 4 of 9, by Mau1wurf1977

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SCSI? Hmm a bit outside of my area here...

What about partition utilities, like the ones on the Ultimate Boot CD?

Haven't come across partitions that can't be deleted via FDISK. You need to use the option "Delte Non DOS partitions".

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Reply 5 of 9, by SquallStrife

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If that happens I usually just quick format the volume, which resets the label.

format /u /q x:

...should do the trick. Swap X for the applicable letter.

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Reply 6 of 9, by blakespot

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Mau1wurf1977 wrote:

SCSI? Hmm a bit outside of my area here...

What about partition utilities, like the ones on the Ultimate Boot CD?

Haven't come across partitions that can't be deleted via FDISK. You need to use the option "Delte Non DOS partitions".

No non-DOS partitions found, it tells me...

bp

:: Visit the Byte Cellar, my vintage computer blog (since 2004).
:: See a panorama of my own Byte Cellar (a.k.a. basement computer room)...
:: twitter: @blakespot

Reply 7 of 9, by Joey_sw

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since i was familiar with FAT filesystem, i would just use Norton DiskEdit to manualy change stuff.

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Reply 8 of 9, by Thraka

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Are you sure that your bios HD controller isn't getting in the way at all? I've not used SCSI before, but I've heard of having another controller can sometimes conflict if the bios controller is still enabled.

Reply 9 of 9, by Jorpho

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Joey_sw wrote:

since i was familiar with FAT filesystem, i would just use Norton DiskEdit to manualy change stuff.

I agree, that would probably do the trick. I'm not sure what the best freeware alternative to DiskEdit would be, though.

Is the drive working properly otherwise? Are there actually files present? How are you able to identify the label?

If FDISK isn't working, perhaps you should try an alternative. Isn't there a FreeDOS FDISK?