NAME

fdformat − format floppy diskette

SYNOPSIS

fdformat [ −dDeEfHlLmMUqvx ] [ −b label ] [ −B filename ] [ −t dostype ] [ devname ]

AVAILABILITY

SUNWcsu

DESCRIPTION

fdformat is a utility for formatting diskettes.  All new, blank diskettes must be formatted before they can be used.  fdformat formats and verifies each track on the diskette, and indicates whether any bad sectors were encountered.  All existing data on the diskette, if any, is destroyed by formatting. 

By default, fdformat uses the configured capacity of the drive to format the diskette.  A 3.5" high-density drive uses diskettes with a formatted capacity of 1.44 megabytes.  A 5.25" high-density drive uses diskettes with a formatted capacity of 1.2 megabytes.  In either case, a density option does not have to be specified to fdformat.  However, a density option must be specified when using a diskette with a lower capacity than the drive’s default.  Use the −H option to format high-density diskettes (1.44-megabyte capacity) in an extra-high-density (ED) drive. Use the −D option, the −l option, or the −L option to format double-density (or "low-density") diskettes (720KB capacity) in an HD or ED drive.  To format medium-density diskettes (1.2-megabyte capacity), use the −M option with −t nec (this is the same as using the −m option with −t nec). 

Extended density uses double-sided, extended-density (or extra-high-density) (DS/ED) diskettes. Medium and high densities use the same media: double-sided, high-density (DS/HD) diskettes.  Double ("low") density uses double-sided, double-density (DS/DD) diskettes.  Substituting diskettes of one density for diskettes of either a higher or lower density generally will not work.  Data integrity cannot be assured whenever a diskette is formatted to a capacity not matching its density. 

fdformat writes new identification and data fields for each sector on all tracks unless the −x option is specified.  If the −v option is specified, each sector on all tracks is written and read back.  Otherwise, a read of each sector is performed immediately after the track is formatted. 

After formatting and verifying, fdformat writes an operating-system label on block 0.  Use the −t dos option (same as the −d option) to put an MS-DOS file system on the diskette after format is done or use the −t nec option with the −M option (same as the −m option) to put an NEC-DOS file system on the diskette.  Otherwise, fdformat writes a SunOS label on the diskette in block 0.  The label is required on Solaris systems if you intend to put a UNIX file system on the diskette. 

OPTIONS

−D Format a 720KB (3.5") or 360KB (5.25") double-density diskette (same as the −l or −L options).  This is the default for double-density type drives.  It is needed if the drive is a high- or extended-density type. 

−e Eject the diskette when done.  (This feature is not available on all systems). 

−E Format a 2.88-megabyte (3.5") extended-density diskette.  This is the default for extended-density type drives. 

−f Force.  Do not ask for confirmation before starting format. 

−H Format a 1.44-megabyte (3.5") or 1.2-megabyte (5.25") high-density diskette.  This is the default for high-density type drives; it is needed if the drive is the extended-density type. 

−M Write a 1.2-megabyte (3.5") medium-density format on a high-density diskette (use only with the −t nec option).  This is the same as using −m.  (This feature is not available on all systems.) 

−U umount any file systems on the floppy and then format. 

−q Quiet; do not print status messages. 

−v Verify each block of the diskette after the format. 

−x Skip the format, and only write a SunOS label or an MS-DOS file system. 

−b label Label the diskette with volume label. A SunOS volume label is restricted to 8 characters. A DOS volume label is restricted to 11 upper-case characters.

−B filename Install special boot loader in filename on an MS-DOS diskette.  This option is only meaningful when the −d option (or  -t dos) is also specified. 

−t dos Install an MS-DOS file system and boot sector on the disk after formatting.  This is equivalent to the DOS format command or the −d option. 

−t nec Install an NEC-DOS file system and boot sector on the disk after formatting. This should be used only with the −M option.  (This feature is not available on all systems). 

devname Replace devname with rdiskette0 (systems without Volume Management) or floppy0 (systems with Volume Management) to use the first drive or rdiskette1 (systems without Volume Management) or floppy1 (systems with Volume Management) to use the second drive.  If devname is omitted, the default drive, if one exists, will be used. 

The following options are provided for compatibility with previous versions of fdformat; their use is discouraged. 

−d Format an MS-DOS floppy diskette (same as −t dos).  This is equivalent to the MS-DOS ­FORMAT command. 

−l Format a 720KB (3.5") or 360KB (5.25") double-density diskette (same as −D or −L).  This is the default for double-density type drives; it is needed if the drive is the high- or extended-density type. 

−L Format a 720KB (3.5") or 360KB (5.25") double-density diskette (same as −l or −D).  This is the default for double-density type drives; it is needed if the drive is the high- or extended-density type. 

−m Write a 1.2-megabyte (3.5") medium-density format on a high-density diskette (use only with the −t nec option).  This is the same as using −M.  (This feature is not available on all systems.) 

FILES

/vol/dev/diskette0 Directory providing block device access for the media in floppy drive 0. 

/vol/dev/rdiskette0 Directory providing character device access for the media in floppy drive 0. 

/vol/dev/aliases/floppy0 Symbolic link to the character device for the media in floppy drive 0. 

/dev/rdiskette Directory providing character device access for the media in the primary floppy drive, usually drive 0. 

SEE ALSO

cpio(1), eject(1), tar(1), volcancel(1), volcheck(1), volmissing(1), mount(1M), newfs(1M), rmmount(1M), vold(1M), rmmount.conf(4), vold.conf(4), pcfs(7), volfs(7)

x86 Only

fd(7)

NOTES

A diskette containing a ufs file system created on a SPARC (big endian) system (by using fdformat and newfs(1M)) is not identical to a diskette containing a ufs file system created on an x86 (little endian) system.  Do not interchange ufs diskettes between these platforms; use cpio(1) or tar(1) to transfer files on diskettes between them. 

A diskette formatted using the −t dos option (or −d) for MS-DOS will not have the necessary system files, and is therefore not bootable.  Trying to boot from it on a PC will result in the following message:

Non-System disk or disk error
Replace and strike any key when ready

BUGS

Currently, bad sector mapping is not supported on floppy diskettes.  Therefore, a diskette is unusable if fdformat finds an error (bad sector). 

SunOS 5.4  —  Last change: 25 Jan 1994