format(1) — AIX PS/2 1.2.1



FORMAT, FDFORMAT(1,C)       AIX Commands Reference        FORMAT, FDFORMAT(1,C)



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
format, fdformat



PURPOSE

Formats diskettes.

SYNTAX


          +------------+   +- -d/dev/fd0 -+
format ---|   +----+   |---|              |---|
          +---| -f |---+   +-- -ddevice --+
            ^ | -l | |
            | +----+ |
            +--------+

            +------+
fdformat ---|      |--- device ---|
            +- -h -+


Note:  The command is for the PS/2 only.

DESCRIPTION

The format command formats diskettes in the specified device (/dev/fd0 by
default).  The format command determines the device type, which is one of the
following:

  o a "5-1/2" low density diskette (360K) containing 40x2 tracks, each with
    nine sectors

  o a "5-1/2" high capacity diskette (1.2M) containing 80x2 tracks, each with
    15 sectors

  o a "3-1/2" low density diskette (720K) containing 80x2 tracks, each with
    nine sectors

  o a "3-1/2" high capacity diskette (1.4M) containing 80x2 tracks, each with
    18 sectors

The sector size is 512 bytes for all diskette types.

The fdformat command formats a diskette for low density unless the -h flag is
specified.  The format command formats a diskette for high density unless
device specifies a different density, or the -l flag is specified.






Processed November 8, 1990   FORMAT, FDFORMAT(1,C)                            1



FORMAT, FDFORMAT(1,C)       AIX Commands Reference        FORMAT, FDFORMAT(1,C)



Before formatting a diskette, format and fdformat prompt for verification.
This allows a user to abort the operation cleanly.  Formatting a diskette
destroys existing data.

Note:  The fdformat command is placed in /usr/ucb as a link to the AIX format
       command.

FLAGS

-ddevice        Specifies the device containing the diskette to be formatted.

-f              Formats the diskette without checking for bad tracks, thus
                formatting the diskette faster.

-l              Formats a 360K diskette in a "5-1/2" 1.2M diskette drive.
                Formats a 720K diskette in a "3-1/2" 1.4M diskette drive.

                Warning: A 360K diskette drive may not be able to read a 360K
                diskette that has been formatted in a 1.2M drive.

-h              Force high-density formatting.

device          Device containing the diskette to be formatted (/dev/rfd0 for
                drive 0).

FILES

/dev/rfd[01]

RELATED INFORMATION

See the following command:  "flcopy"

See the fd file in AIX Operating System Technical Reference.





















Processed November 8, 1990   FORMAT, FDFORMAT(1,C)                            2

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