schmitz@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu (Thomas Schmitz) (02/05/88)
Why doesn't the DOS FORMAT command work correctly when formatting 3.5-inch diskettes on an XT clone? The format steps through 40 tracks correctly, then fails. The system in question is MS DOS 3.2 (or PC DOS 3.3) on an XT clone with a Toshiba 3.5" 720K drive. So far, only 360-K formats are successful. -- Tom Schmitz ARPA: schmitz@zeus.cs.umn.edu 2111 21st Avenue South UUCP: ...!rutgers!umn-cs!schmitz Minneapolis, MN 55404 CSNET: schmitz%zeus%umn-cs.arpa@relay.cs.net (612) 340-1855
esd@cbterra.ATT.COM (Eric S. Deese) (02/05/88)
In article <3814@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu> schmitz@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu (Thomas Schmitz) writes: >Why doesn't the DOS FORMAT command work correctly when formatting >3.5-inch diskettes on an XT clone? The format steps through 40 tracks >correctly, then fails. > >The system in question is MS DOS 3.2 (or PC DOS 3.3) on an XT clone >with a Toshiba 3.5" 720K drive. So far, only 360-K formats are >successful. > >-- Tom Schmitz > I have a similar problem -- I have an AT clone with a 1.44M 3.5" floppy (unsure of manufacturer). I can format 1.44M, but can not format as 720K or 360K. I am using generic MS DOS 3.30 and am having the worst time trying to figure out the options I need to supply to FORMAT. If anyone out there can help, I would be extreeeeeemly thankful. Thanks in advance, Eric Deese (cbosgd!esd)
wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) (02/07/88)
Recently, I had to get a 1.44 meg Sony 3.5 inch drive to work on
an AST AT look-alike machine.
Dang frustrating, as has been noted on this net.
1. Use [MS]DOS 3.3. ver. 3.2 might work, but I used 3.3
2. Install the drive as floppy unit 1 (B:). I assume that you
are going to retain the original 1.2 meg drive as A:
3. The AST's Phoenix BIOS has a built-in CMOS RAM setup program
that is accessed through CTRL-RSHIFT-ALT (or something simialr;
I don't recall off hand).
4. Edit your CONFIG.SYS file to set up parameters for your drive.
Unfortunately, there isn't any real nice pretty way to get the
drive to user-transparently switch back 'n forth between 720K
and 1.44 meg. What you need to do is set the DRIVPARM for 720K
and then use the DRIVER.SYS device driver to handle the 1.44
meg operation. What happens is that DRIVER.SYS will map the
1.44 meg operation into the first available letter after your
fixed disk:
This is from memory, so consult your DOS manual to double
check.
<<contents of config.sys>>
DRIVPARM=/D1 /T80 /H2 /S9 /U1
DEVICE=DRIVER.SYS /D1 /T80 /H2 /S18 /U1
^
|
this is the parameter I don't remember
you need to indicate to use the drive
media change line.
The above worked for me, your mileage may vary.
--Billstephenk@ntcsd1.UUCP (Stephen Keilholz) (02/09/88)
In article <3814@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu> schmitz@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu (Thomas Schmitz) writes: >Why doesn't the DOS FORMAT command work correctly when formatting A >3.5-inch diskettes on an XT clone? The format steps through 40 tracks >correctly, then fails. > >The system in question is MS DOS 3.2 (or PC DOS 3.3) on an XT clone >with a Toshiba 3.5" 720K drive. So far, only 360-K formats are >successful. > Tom, You need to include a reference to DRIVER.SYS in your CONFIG.SYS to tell DOS that the drive is a 720K drive (actually that it has 80 tracks). You can also use it to add tracks to 5 1/4" floppies -- just define them as 43 track drives. I have been able to successfully format 3.5 inch disks with 84 tracks and 5.25 inch disks with 43. (Not recommended but it can be done.) If you do not format disks daily, you can install the DRIVER.SYS, format all your disks, then remove it from your CONFIG.SYS. DOS Recognizes the format of disks after they have been formated. If you need the specifics for installing DRIVER.SYS and can't find them in any reference books (DOS Manuals or other DOS books) let me know and I'll check it outt (at home.) Stephen Keilholz {WhereIAm}ntcsd1!stephenk P.S. My system is DOS 3.2, PC-Clone, and Toshiba 3.5" Drive. S.K.