10. FIPS, splitting of harddisk partitions

This section is for people who has a one only primary FAT partition (DOS, Windows 3.xx, NT) and wants to keep it without loosing data. Make some backup because if you burn it, I won't be responsible. You will.

Download FIPS. Don't forget the mirrors ftp.xx.debian.org where xx is your country abbreviation (fr, fi, us, uk, etc.).

At the time of this writing the archive file is called fips20.zip.

The fips program is already in the debian cdrom distribution. I found it (yes, after download the fips20.zip file) in /cdrom/debian/tools/fips15.zip (It supposes your cdrom is mounted on /cdrom)

I guess you are on a Unix world but you're not compelled to do so. Go in a good working place on the source computer:

     $ mkdir /tmp/fips-2.0/
     $ cd /tmp/fips-2.0/
     $ unzip -l /archive/fips/fips20.zip
     ...
     $ unzip  /archive/fips/fips20.zip
     ...
     $ ls
     $ dos2unix fips.doc fips.faq  readme.1st 
    

1. Read the file readme.1st
2. Read the file fips.doc
3. Read the file fips.faq

Boot your target computer. Be in pure DOS (Quit Windows).

Read again the file fips.doc from the section "5. Before you start".

Be aware of hidden files.

Be aware to eliminate the "virtual memory" file (swap for Win*) during the fips process. In Windows 3.11 (Quite up to date, no?) this swap file is configurated from Program-Manager->Control-Panel->Extent (a i386 chip icon).

Click->Click->Click on the chip and re-click on a button called "Virtual Memory".

Adjust the size to none, Click<-Click<-Click<-Click back plus Alt-F4 to close all your windows. Don't you think the gates are too closed too ?

Go to sleep.

Run SCANDISK:

     C:\> SCANDISK
    

Correct every cluster. You should have no dead cluster now.

Quit SCANDISK

Run DEFRAG on C:

     C:\> DEFRAG C:
    

All clusters are at the beginning of the harddisk.

Quit DEFRAG

Make a bootable floppy disk:

     C:\> FORMAT A:/S
    

Copy AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS on the new floppy if you want to keep your local features (keyboard keys etc.). Remove the line running SMARTDRIVE.EXE in AUTOEXEC.BAT. Keep a minimal AUTOEXEC.BAT

On the source box: Copy the fips files restorrb.exe, fips.exe and errors.txt to this floppy disk.

    $ mcopy errors.txt fips.exe restorrb.exe a:
    

Boot the target with the floppy. Run fips while reading the section "Using FIPS" in the file fips.doc

Do not forget to answer yes when fips ask for a rootboot saving.

When everything is ok, save your hard disk space:

     $ cd
     $ rm -rf /tmp/fips-2.0/
    

Now you have a nice free space for a new operating system.