SCO OpenServer Handbook
Chapter 7, Using other operating systems with an SCO system
Installing a UNIX partition on a DOS system

Installing a UNIX partition on a DOS system

If you wish to set up an SCO system on a hard disk which previously contained only DOS, follow these steps:

  1. Copy (back up) all the DOS files and directories on the hard disk onto floppies, or whatever backup media you wish to use.

  2. Run fdisk, under DOS. If there is enough free space for a UNIX partition on your hard disk (check the Release Notes), skip to step 4. Otherwise, delete the DOS partition, then recreate it, leaving enough room on the disk for your SCO system and any other software that you intend to install.

  3. Return the DOS files from the backup media to the newly created DOS partition on the hard disk. Keep the backups in case there is an error of some kind, so you will not lose any data.

  4. Turn off your computer.

  5. Follow the installation procedure outlined in Chapter 2, ``Installing or upgrading an SCO system'' to install the SCO system. Be sure and select the Preserve option to retain the DOS partition.

    You will see a message warning that the contents of the hard disk will be destroyed. There is no cause for concern, because you have already backed up the DOS files and transferred them to the new DOS partition. The new partition being created will contain the SCO system, and the installation process will only write information on the UNIX partition.

  6. During the installation procedure, fdisk is invoked to partition the hard disk. Use fdisk to assign a sufficiently large UNIX partition.

  7. Designate UNIX as the active operating system using the Activate Partition option of fdisk.

  8. Finish installing the SCO system distribution.

NOTE: UNIX fdisk displays DOS partitions as ``DOS'' while DOS fdisk displays UNIX partitions as ``Other''. You can only create DOS partitions using DOS fdisk, and UNIX partitions using UNIX fdisk.

Be aware that DOS fdisk reports sizes in terms of cylinders, while UNIX fdisk reports sizes in terms of tracks. Check your hard disk manual for the number and size of cylinders on your hard disk.