#format 3.5
5 messages in this thread
Any ideas as to how to format a 3.5 " disk for use with the Transformer at 720
KB using MS DOS 3.2
Frank,
You have to modify your config.sys file to create a virtual drive via
driver.sys. I've done it, it's easy, but I'm not at home so can't give it
exactly. Anyway, it's something like this…
device=driver.sys /D0:
Look in your DOS manual for the exact format or you can wait until
later on tonight, and I'll give you the exact format of the line.
Once you re-boot with that added, all you have to do is access the
drive as drive D: (or 1 letter higher than your highest present "real" drive),
for me, that is drive E: as I have the internal drive, external 3.5, external
5.25 and VDisk (as D:). Whatever drive letter the system calls it, just do a
FORMAT D: and you will be asked to insert the disk to be formatted into drive
D: (which is really drive A: confusing isn't it) and have at it.
Once you do this, you can also add a /SYS and it will write the system
files to that drive and you CAN boot with a 720K formatted disk and then the
system will recognize drive A: as a 720K drive—-it will also read and write
360K disks–it's semi-intelligent about what type of disk you have in the
drive.
Don
Thanks Don. I'll try it and let you know the results. I'll also call again
later in case anything more is needed.
Frank
Frank,
Ok, I'm home now and this is the proper command:
device=driver.sys /D:0
to add a virtual drive to the internal floppy and:
device=driver.sys /D:1
to add a virtual drive to the external 3.5" floppy. The full command
like (which isn't absolutely necessary as they are the defaults) is:
device=driver.sys /D:0 /T:80 /S:9 /H:2 /F:2
(drive/tracks/sectors/heads/FATS)
Don
Thanks again Don.
Frank