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Q106141: FORMAT and DISKCOPY Errors with Stacker 3.x

Article: Q106141
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:3.2,3.3,4.x,5.0,5.0a,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 3.2, 3.3, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

If you are running STAC Electronics Stacker version 3.0 or 3.1 on your computer,
you may receive the following errors when you use the MS-DOS DISKCOPY and FORMAT
commands on floppy disks:

With DISKCOPY:

  Formatting while copying
  Drive types or diskette types not compatible
  Copy process ended
  Copy another diskette (Y/N)?

With FORMAT:

  Existing format differs from that specified
  This disk cannot be unformatted.
  Proceed with format (Y,N)?

  -or-

  Parameter not compatible with fixed disk.
  Format terminated.

  -or-

  Error reading partition table. Format terminated.

  -or-

  Extended error 21. Format terminated.

CAUSE
=====

According to STAC Electronics, these problems are caused by Stacker's AutoMount
feature. If you remove a Stacker-compressed floppy disk and insert an
uncompressed disk in the same drive, you may be unable to use the MS-DOS
DISKCOPY and FORMAT commands on the uncompressed disk until the drive is
unmounted. In addition, a Stacker-compressed disk must first be unmounted before
it can be formatted with the MS-DOS FORMAT command.

WORKAROUND
==========

To work around these problems, first unmount the disk drive. This can be done by
typing "stacker -x:" (without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt
(where <x> is the letter of the floppy disk drive) or by removing the
compressed floppy disk from the drive and rebooting the computer.

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

Stacker 3.0 and 3.1 are manufactured by STAC Electronics, a vendor independent
of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these
products' performance or reliability.

REFERENCES
==========

"Stacker 3.0 for Windows and DOS User's Guide," pages 137 and 274


Additional query words: 6.22 6.00 6.20 6.21 6.0 6 msdos format.com diskcopy.com error message 3rdparty stacked

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS320 kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS330 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:3.2,3.3,4.x,5.0,5.0a,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22

=============================================================================

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