Additional usage issues for MS-DOS [TM] 5.0 or 6.0 users:

The various backup procedures referenced within this program recommend that, 
as  you  rotate  back and forth between backup  masters,  you  reformat  the 
current disk used for backup.  

In  versions of DOS prior to MS-DOS [TM] 5.0 or 6.0,  a 'FORMAT A:'  command 
would  reformat  every  byte  on  the  floppy  disk,   thereby  providing  a 
magnetically fresh surface for your current backup master.   MS-DOS [TM] 5.0 
or  6.0,  however,  performs  a 'safe format'.   While overwriting the  root 
directory area and the File Allocation Table (FAT),  MS-DOS [TM] 5.0 or  6.0 
does  not  write over the data area.   The format command in version of  DOS 
prior to MS-DOS [TM] 5.0 or 6.0 will overwrite the root directory area,  the 
FAT, and all of the data areas on the disk.

The  intent  of  the 'safe format' is to give you the option  of  using  the 
'UNFORMAT' command of MS-DOS [TM] 5.0 or 6.0, should you accidentally format 
a disk.  Though laudable in intent, the 'safe format' feature of MS-DOS [TM] 
5.0 or 6.0 is disastrous when used on backup masters.  The physical media on 
your floppies is an excellent medium for backing up your data files, as long 
as you perform a true format against those floppies.   On average, about 80% 
of  the  read/write problems my customers have is  magnetic,  not  physical.  
Once  reformatted,  the magnetic oxide particles on the backup floppies  are 
realigned and are as good as new.

To perform an Unconditional format in MS-DOS [TM] 5.0 or 6.0, you enter this 
command:
                               FORMAT A: /U   

To perform a Safe format(the default in MS-DOS [TM] 5.0 or 6.0), you enter:

                                 FORMAT A: 

For a Quick format, you would enter:

                               FORMAT A: /Q   

Restated, the Safe Format and the Quick Format options in MS-DOS [TM] 5.0 or 
6.0 do not perform an actual disk format.   They only mark the disk space as 
available  for file storage.   When used for backup masters for  your  data, 
please use the Unconditional format method.



                  -- SETVER.EXE incompatibility issues --

If you observe intermittent errors in running this program or in performing 
updates, please look for this command in your CONFIG.SYS:

                          DEVICE=C:\DOS\SETVER.EXE

If you can remove it from CONFIG.SYS,  please do so;  if not,  then you  may 
have  to  perform  the following procedure within the subdirectory  of  this 
program to make it run correctly:
         

                     DEL *.MEM <======== you enter these commands, 
                                            followed by [ENTER]
                        GO       <========  



            Additional format issues for DR DOS [TM] 6.0 users:

The  preceding discussion applies to DR DOS [TM] also.   Though it does  not 
have a Quick option, it too provides 2 levels of format to allow for the use 
of  their UNFORMAT.   To perform an Unconditional format in DR DOS [TM] 6.0, 
you would enter this command:

                               FORMAT A: /U   



MS-DOS [TM] is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
DR DOS [TM] is a registered trademark of Digital Research, Inc.