Q49717: Using MS-DOS Shell to Format Low-Density Disks

Article: Q49717
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 4.0, 4.01, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
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SUMMARY
=======

The MS-DOS Shell's "DOS Utilities" title list contains a FORMAT command. If you
select this utility, the MS-DOS Shell displays a dialog box and a default
parameter, of "a:". This is documented on Page 33 of the "Microsoft MS-DOS Shell
User's Guide" manual for version 4.0.

If you have a high-density drive (that is, 5.25-inch 1.2 MB or 3.5-inch 1.44 MB)
and high-density floppies, you should just press the ENTER key. If you have a
low-density drive, this is not a concern because only low- density disks can be
used. You just need to be careful within the MS-DOS Shell or at the command line
when using low-density disks in a high-density drive. You usually won't need to
change the default of "a:".

In the above situation, you must add to the "a:" default an extra parameter to
format low-density disks in a high-density drive. For 5.25-inch 360K disks, the
parameter is /F:360K. For 3.5-inch 720K disks, the parameter is /F:720K. This
makes the dialog box display either "a: /F:360K" or "a: /F:720K", depending on
disk size.

Changing parameters in a dialog box is often forgotten while using the MS-DOS
Shell, since the MS-DOS Shell allows you to point and click without typing, and
in many cases without any need for documentation.

MORE INFORMATION
================

If you have a high-density disk drive and format both low-density and high-
density disks in the drive, you can avoid this problem by adding a program with
a title similar to "Format low density" that would format a disk with the "/4"
option.

The default MS-DOS Shell command definition for the FORMAT command is as
follows:

  format [/t"Format Utility"/i"Enter drive to Format."/p
         "Parameters . .  "/d"a: "/r]||pause||

The line above has been split immediately following the "/p" parameter, but
should fit on one line. The ||'s above are generated with the F4 key.

To make a "Format low density" program entry, just copy the entry to a new entry,
change the program name, then change the program's command options. The string
in quotation marks following "/t" can be changed to "Format low density
Utility", and the string following "/d" can be changed to "a: /F:360K" or "a:
/F:720K", depending on disk size.

Additional query words: 4.00 4.01 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20 6.21 6.22 Dosshell

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS401 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22

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