Cannot set an installable partition with FDISK

Symptoms

Hardware

Problem

A related (but different) problem might be that you are using a harddisk which is bigger than 4.3 Gb. In that case, you might want to use IBM's updated (E)IDE drivers from the OS/2 Device Driver Pak On-Line.

Procedure

There are at least four possible solutions to this problem.

1. If you have the floppy version of Warp, backup the disk containing FDISK (Diskette 1). Copy the FDISK of 2.1 onto that disk, replacing Warp's FDISK.

 

 
 
 

2. If you have the CD version of Warp, one solution is to make the diskimages from the CD. Execute MAKEDSKS.BAT or MAKEDSKS.CMD on your CD for that. Then proceed as described above. If you're not an expert, this is the way to go. The disadvantage is that you'll need lots of floppies, and installation will take quite some time. If I were you, I would not install all bells and whistles. Once you have a minimal Warp system on your harddisk, you can install other parts directly from the CD. When Selective Install asks for a path (defaults to A:), change that to x:\OS2IMAGE, where x: is the drive letter of your CD-ROM.
3. If you have the CD version, you could also temporarily copy all the installation files to your harddisk, if you have the diskspace to spare (about 45 Mb). See these instructions for more information on how to do that. Then copy the 2.1 FDISK over the Warp FDISK (in D:\OS2IMAGE\DISK_1) and install from there. After the installation, these files can be deleted.
4. Probably the easiest solution is the following approach. This one worked for me.
• Get the good FDISK.COM from OS/2 2.1. Copy it to a seperate, empty disk.
• Boot from the Warp disks. When you get to the blue installation screen (Diskette 1) where you have to choose Easy or Advanced Installation, press F3 for the command line.
• Type A: to go to the A: drive.
• Insert the disk with the good FDISK.COM and start it. You get the standard warning screen, "FDISK can be dangerous" etc.
• (Re)partition your harddisk to your likings.
• Write down the drive letter where you want to install Warp (say X:)
• Reboot
• Edit (e.g. under DOS) the CONFIG.SYS on Warp's bootdisk 1 and insert:

  SET INSTALLDRIVE=X:

• Boot from the Warp disks. This time, Warp will not load the faulty FDISK.COM and it will not ask where you want it to be installed. It will install on X: without further asking, so be sure you got the drive letter right!!!

Notes