The formatting options work as follows:

Format first scans the disk (if it has no defective track table) for defective (bad) tracks and lets you decide which tracks to mark as bad. Then the program formats the disk and marks the bad tracks so they are never used to store data.

D e s t r u c t i v e s u r f a c e a n a l y s i s t e s t s t h e entire disk for read/write errors or unflagged bad tracks and updates the defective track table. Because this option writes and reads data on the disk, it destroys all data on any track that produces an error. You cannot run the Destructive surface analysis on a disk that has never been formatted.

Non-destructive surface analysischecks

the disk for unflagged bad tracks without destroying data. You cannot run the Non-destructive surface analysis on a disk that has never been formatted.

The type of format you choose depends on whether you are reformatting a disk that has been used or formatting a new disk for the first time. See the recommendations below.

Reformatting a Used Disk

If you are reformatting a disk you have been using that appears to be damaged, follow these steps:

1.Use the Non-destructive surface analysis test to check for unflagged bad tracks.

2.If errors occur during the Non-destructive analysis, use BACKUP to back up the data on your disk. (See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions on how to use BACKUP.)

3.Run the Destructive surface analysis.

Physically Formatting a Hard Disk

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