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READ.ME
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1992-07-25
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Alternate Floppy Formats
July 25 1992
The advanced Format utility (the 1.3/2.0 version only) allows a
different format to be forced on an MS-DOS floppy disk. Forcing a
format on other disk types such as AmigaDOS will not succeed.
Forcing a format is optional. Normally the Format utility will format
the disk to the optimal size. If you can, don't force a alternate
format. If you do need to force a format, make sure you know what
type of disk you are planning to use. Forcing a format will override
disk size checking.
Floptical drive users may need to force a disk format because the
software mechanisms for checking the size of the media in the drive
are not available. Follow one of the two procedures detailed in the
section "Floptical Users" for formatting disks.
We recommend that if you must force a format, that you use the icons
on the product disk. Installed versions can be used if the 1.3/2.0
version of the Format command is installed.
*******************************************
Alternate Format Types
The following are the types of alternate formats supported.
Double-click on the icon that matches the format desired. Do not
modify any of the ToolTypes in the icon. This may result in an
improper format.
MSDOS_720K.Format
-----------------
This is the standard format for an MS-DOS 3 1/2" low density disk. If
you are using the standard Amiga drive don't use this icon but rather
use the Format utility instead.
This format is useful for floptical drive users because the software
cannot sense when a low density disk is in the drive.
MSDOS_1.44M.Format
------------------
This is the standard format for an MS-DOS 3 1/2" high density disk.
If you are using the standard Amiga high density drive don't use this
icon but rather use the Format utility instead. If you do not have an
Amiga high density drive, forcing this format will fail.
This format is useful for floptical drive users because the software
cannot sense when a high density disk is in the drive.
Floptical_20M.Format
--------------------
This is the format for a MS-DOS 20 Meg floptical disk. This format is
not a hard drive format but a compatible floppy format.
If you do not have a floptical drive, forcing this format will
probably fail.
This format is useful for floptical drive users because the software
cannot sense when a floptical disk is in the drive.
ATARI_720K.Format
-----------------
This is the standard format for an Atari ST 3 1/2" low density disk.
Use this if you must but most Atari-STs can read the standard MS-DOS
720K format.
MSDOS_360K.Format
-----------------
This is the standard format for an MS-DOS 5 1/4" low density disk. If
you are using the standard Amiga drive don't use this icon but rather
use the Format utility instead.
*******************************************
Floptical Users
Formatting with the floptical drive may require forcing a disk format.
This is becasue the floptical cannot properly sense the size of the
unformatted disk in the drive. There are two ways to format in the
floptical drive.
One: Insert a preformatted MS-DOS disk in the drive with the same
formatted size as you want to format. If you want to format a 1.44M
disk, for example, insert a preformatted MS-DOS 1.44M disk in the
drive first. Then, execute the "Format" program. Proceed with the
program until you come the requester that says "Ok to format volume
... " then insert the actual disk to be formatted and proceed.
Two: Double-click on the format project icon in the
":system/Alt_Formats" drawer that corresponds to the desired format.
For example, double-click on the "MSDOS_720K.Format" icon to 'force'
the format of the disk to 720K. Proceed through the format.
Choose the method that makes you comfortable. Experimentation is your
best teacher.