Chapter 4

Formatting a Diskette

This chapter briefly describes how to format a diskette with diagnostics. Normally, you format a diskette using the MS-DOS FORMAT command. However, if you are running diagnostics and decide to test your floppy drives (which requires a formatted diskette), you can select option 3, Format disk- ette, from the OPERATION MENU. This option lets you format a 360KB double-density or a 720KB high-density diskette without exiting diagnostics.

The Format diskette program destroys any data on the diskette. When formatting your diskettes, the program also initializes the directory and file allocation tables.

To format a diskette, select option 3 from the OPERATION MENU. If you have two diskette drives, you see this message and prompt:

Format DisketteFormat in which drive (A/B)?
Press A or B and Enter. Then this prompt displays:
Insert new diskette for drive A: and strike ENTER when ready

(The A : is B : if you selected that drive.) Insert the diskette to be formatted and press Enter. The screen displays the head and cylinder numbers as the diskette is formatted.

When the format is complete, you see these messages (for a 360KB diskette):
Format complete362496 bytes total disk space362496 bytes available on diskFormat another (Y/N)?
You can format another diskette or return to the OPERATION MENU.
For a complete description of the FORMAT command, refer to the MS-DOS manual.

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