Using Windows 9x Fdisk to delete an NTFS partition (Part 2)

Go to Part I.

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[2] Using fdisk (continued from Part 1)

2. Using fdisk (continued from Part 1)

A list of options is displayed: only choose 1. Create a DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive (Fig. 5). This and option 2 are not appropriate here.

Fig. 5. Fdisk option 1.

Choose 3. Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6. Fdisk option 3.

Before choosing the above options, you may wish to review the existing partition information first; choose 4 Display partition information (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7. Fdisk option 4.

This shows the information which is slightly more detailed than using fdisk /status (Fig. 8). If there is more than one partition, take extra care to choose the correct one. If you have not read the introduction in Part I about logical drive limitation, go and read it carefully.

Fig. 8. Fdisk: Display partition information: NTFS.

To delete NTFS partition, choose Delete Non-DOS partition, option 4 on the correct drive and ENTER (Fig. 9).

Fig. 9. Option 4. Delete non-DOS partition.

If you wish not to proceed, press Esc  to return to fdisk options menu. After you've deleted the partition you would need to reformat it to use it again using the format command.

So you should finally be convinced now it is possible to use fdisk to delete an NTFS partition and you do not need to use the Windows XP CD to format an NTFS partition to FAT32 first before re-installing Windows 9x.

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Last updated 7 Dec 2004