FILE SYSTEM PROBLEM

[lenagala]

I have heard that if you are using multiple operating systems the root partitions of all the OS shoul be within the first 8 GB. Is this true.Please Explain.

[scada]

O.K. here we go.

When you first boot a system. The only way to access the drive is thur the BIOS software. The BIOS functions used are call INT13 and can access only the first 7.8GB of hard drive space( older motherboards). In newer Motherboards or BIOS there is an extension to INT13 called INT13 extensions (DUH). This allows new OS like Windows98,Windows2000 and Windows95 release 2 ( which are aware of the "new" INT13 functions) to access "system partitions" greater than 7.8GB. However older OS like Windows NT are not aware of the INT13 extensions and therefore can not access any System partition greater than 7.8 GB.

So most people will always recommend that your active partition or C drive be no bigger than 7.8GB if your dual booting between OSes.


One other thing this limit is only for the system partition. All other partitions are not affected.

Hope this helps http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif




[This message has been edited by scada (edited 12-06-2000).]