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This command is available on Sun386i, Sun-3/80, and Desktop SPARC systems only.
fdformat is a utility for formatting floppy diskettes. All new blank diskettes must be formatted before they can be used. fdformat formats and verifies each track on the diskette, and terminates if it finds any bad sectors. All existing data on the diskette, if any, is destroyed by formatting.
By default, fdformat formats a high density diskette with a capacity of 1.44 megabytes. Use the -L or -l option to format low density diskettes (720K capacity). Note: it is not possible to put a low density format onto a high density floppy diskette. High density diskettes can be recognized by the high density detect hole in the lower right corner of the diskette, opposite the write protect hole in the lower left corner.
Use the -d option to put a MS-DOS file system on the diskette after format is done. Otherwise, the Sun-3/80 and Desktop SPARC systems version of fdformat writes a SunOS label on the diskette in logical block 0 after it has been formatted. The label is required on Sun-3/80 and Desktop SPARC systems if you intend to put a UNIX file system on the floppy diskette.
On Sun386i systems, use the -2 option to format diskettes in the optional external 5 1/4" floppy drive. To format diskettes for use under MS-DOS, use the MS-DOS FORMAT command in a DOS window.
A diskette formatted using the -d option for MS-DOS won't 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
Currently bad sector mapping is not supported on floppy diskettes. Therefore, a diskette is unusable if fdformat finds an error (bad sector).
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Created by unroff & hp-tools. © somebody (See intro for details). All Rights Reserved. Last modified 11/5/97