Formatting and Checking Options

To perform a physical format or to determine if a hard disk needs to be physically reformatted, follow these steps:

1.Insert the Reference diskette in drive A.

2.Turn on or reset the computer. The OPERATION MENU appears.

3.Press 2 to select Format hard disk, and then press Enter. The following menu of formatting and checking options appears:

HARD DISK FORMAT MENUl - Conditional format (Normal)- Unconditional format;- Destructive surface analysis4 - Non-destructive surface analysis

0 - Exit

Enter selection number:

The first two options format a hard disk. Normally you use option 1, Conditional format (Normal). This option automatically locates any tracks that are flagged by the manufacturer and marks them so that they are never used. Option 2, Unconditional format, requires you to enter tracks that are to be flagged as bad, and then allows you to edit the list of bad tracks.

The other two options test a hard disk for problems. Use option 3, Destructive surface analysis, to test the entire disk and update the bad track table. Because this option writes and reads data on the disk, it destroys all data on any track that produces an error. To check for unflagged bad tracks without destroying data, use option 4, Nondestructive surface analysis.

D-2Physically Formatting a Hard Disk