FDISK Parameter for Partition Info in MS-DOS 6.22

In MS-DOS 6.22, the primary command-line parameter used to display hard drive partition information without launching the interactive user interface is /STATUS. This article explains how to use the /STATUS switch, what information it reveals, and how to access deeper partition details using the built-in FDISK interactive menu.

The /STATUS Command-Line Parameter

To quickly check disk partitions from the MS-DOS 6.22 prompt, enter:

FDISK /STATUS

When executed, FDISK bypasses its main setup menu and outputs an immediate summary table directly to the console. The output details:

  • Disk: The physical drive number (e.g., Disk 1, Disk 2).
  • Drv: Assigned logical drive letters (e.g., C:, D:).
  • Mbytes: The total capacity of each disk and individual partitions in megabytes.
  • Free: Unallocated space remaining on the physical drive.
  • Usage: The percentage of the drive allocated to existing partitions.

The /STATUS switch is safe to run on production or recovery systems because it operates strictly in read-only mode and cannot alter partition tables or destroy data.

Viewing Granular Partition Details

While FDISK /STATUS provides a concise high-level overview from the command line, it does not reveal lower-level partition mechanics, such as volume labels, file system formats (FAT12 vs. FAT16), active bootable partition flags, or logical drives inside extended partitions.

To view these full details:

  1. Launch the interactive utility by typing FDISK and pressing Enter.
  2. From the FDISK Options menu, select 4. Display partition information.
  3. Review the detailed layout, which displays:
    • Partition: Partition designation (e.g., PRI DOS, EXT DOS).
    • Status: The active boot flag (marked with an A for bootable partitions).
    • Type: File system structure (e.g., PRI DOS, NON-DOS).
    • Volume Label: The assigned disk label.
    • Mbytes and System: File system type (e.g., FAT16) and precise storage usage.
  4. If an Extended DOS partition exists, FDISK prompts whether you wish to view the logical drives contained within it. Type Y to display the drive letters, sizes, and allocation percentages for all secondary volumes.
  5. Press Esc to return to the main menu, and press Esc again to safely exit back to the command prompt.