HD Install :: how do you format hd partitions?

I'm a first timer , 10 gig hd 512 ram 599mhz processor. I booted the cd in dsl 2 mode ran cfdisk to partition the hdwrote my partitions (I was using the instructions for a frugal install) I looked all over the forums and how tos couldn't find any instructions so I clicked on quit to exit cfdisk. I tried to shut down by typing in the command but it wouldn't work so I used control alt delete. When I restarted I'm getting a prompt root@tty1(/)1# also FAT: bogus logical sector size 0 UPS can't find a valid file system mount: you must specify the file system type , unmount:/mnt/hda#:not mounted partitions are hda`1 (partionwith dsl image) bootable hda2 ( home/ backup) hda5 logical (swap) any help would be appreciated

You have to format the partitions before you can use them, usually.

Do from console:

Code Sample

/sbin/mke2fs /dev/hda1

and do the same for any other normal partitions.

For swap partition, do:

Code Sample

/sbin/mkswap /dev/hdax

Where x is the partition number.

I've resolved my problems following the note that you can find here: http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/dsl-hd-install.html

Thanks for the help. This is the first time I tried to install an OS on a hd where do I find the console to format the partitions? Would I be better off starting over or can I stiil format the partitions I just made/ tHANKS

You can edit partitions at every moment you like.

But remember to do backups.

To format a partition you have to know the name of the partition (this will delete all your data on this partition).

Example:
mkfs.ext2 /dev/hda1

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