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Precision Software Appli…tions Silver Collection 1
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Precision Software Applications Silver Collection Volume One (PSM) (1993).iso
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FORMAT.HLP
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1985-09-10
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----------------------- FORMAT - External DOS Command ------------------------
FORMAT initializes a new disk for use with DOS.
FORMAT: FORMAT [d:][/S][/1][/8][/V][/B]
REMARKS:
d: - the drive of the disk to be initialized. If omitted, the default drive
is assumed.
/S - copies the operating system files from the default drive to the new
disk. The new disk will be capable of starting DOS.
/1 - formats a diskette for single-sided use only.
/8 - formats a diskette with 8 sectors per track. If omitted, 9 sectors per
track is assumed.
/V - lets you assign a volume label to the disk. The label may be from 1 to
11 characters.
/B - formats an 8 sector per track diskette with space allocated for DOS
system files. The system files are not placed on the diskette. This
allows both DOS Version 1 and Version 2 to be placed on the diskette
with the SYS command. If /B is not used, only DOS Version 2 can be put
on the diskette with the SYS command.
/V cannot be used with /8. /V and /S cannot be used with /B.
Valid characters for a volume label are:
A-Z, 0-9, and the symbols: $ & # @ ! % ` ' ( ) - { } _ ^ ~
Existing information on a disk will be lost when the disk is formatted.
If defective tracks are detected during the format, they will be marked as
reserved to prevent their use.
FORMAT produces a status report as shown below. The line numbers are added
for reference in the explanation below:
1 362496 bytes total disk space
2 40960 bytes used by system
3 321536 bytes available on disk
Line 1 - total space on the disk.
Line 2 - total space used by DOS system files.
Line 3 - total space available for use.
NOTE: The VOL command can be used to display a volume label. A volume label
can be created only at the time the disk is formatted.
WARNING: Existing information on a disk will be lost when the disk is
formatted. If the drive letter, d:, is omitted, FORMAT assumes the disk in
the default drive is to be formatted. This can be dangerous since you could
accidentally format the wrong disk. Be sure you have specified the correct
drive letter before issuing a FORMAT command.
EXAMPLES:
Format a diskette in drive B:
FORMAT B:
Format a diskette in drive B. Give the diskette the volume label "123DATA":
FORMAT B:/V
Volume label (11 characters, ENTER for none)? 123DATA
DOS prompt enter 123DATA and press RETURN
Format a diskette in drive B. Copy the operating system files during the
format so the new diskette will be capable of starting DOS:
FORMAT B:/S