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Shareware Overload Trio 2
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Shareware Overload Trio Volume 2 (Chestnut CD-ROM).ISO
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fmtutils.zip
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READ.ME
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1994-06-25
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06/24/94
Hate using DOS' FORMAT? Too clunky and command line unfriendly? I
thought so, too. I wanted to come up with a way that told FORMAT
what I wanted to do - but quickly and easily. So, here they are: a
group of 5 batch files that simply make life easier when using FORMAT.
Nothing special, but I hadn't seen anybody else write 'em. The files
included are:
F360.BAT formats 360k disks in drive A:
F120.BAT formats 1200k disks in drive A:
F720.BAT formats 720k disks in drive B:
F144.BAT formats 1440k disks in drive B:
VOLUME.BAT is used by the above to write old label names to your
newly formatted disks.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1) These batch files will call DOS' FORMAT command to format floppy
diskettes.
2) Additionally, if ANY command line parameter is specified, the disk's
current volume label will be saved and rewritten to the newly
formatted disk. Handy for reformatting disks where you want to
keep the same label.
3) With all that in mind, here are some examples:
F144 will format an HD disk in drive B:, with the unconditional
switch set on. It won't ask for a label name and will
quit when the disk is formatted.
F360 yes will format a DD disk in drive A:, with the unconditional
format switch set on. Also, if any volume label existed
on the disk, it will be saved and rewritten to the newly
formatted disk. If no label name existed, the volume
name will be NO LABEL. As mentioned above, you can use
any command line parameter you want. As long as one is
there, the label save/rewrite will occur. Don't use this
switch on an unformatted disk - there's certainly no label
and you'll have to contend with DOS' Abort, Retry, Ignore,
Fail? message.
NOTES:
1) It is best to place these files in a directory along your path,
such as C:\BATCH.
2) The file VOLUME.BAT MUST be in the path, as it is called by the
Fxxx.BAT files to label the disks (it must be available from any-
place on your drive).
3) Make sure too, that FORMAT is also in your path.
4) One temporary batch file will be created if you decide to keep the
old volume label. Currently, it'll be written to the directory that
you have set as your TEMP environment variable. If no temp variable
is set, you'll need to edit each Fxxx.BAT file to reflect where you
want this temporary file written. And if this is the case, why
don't you have a TEMP variable set???
5) These batch files also use the undocumented but widely recognized
/AUTOTEST command line parameter for FORMAT. It just tells FORMAT
to go about it's business and end when the disk is formatted.
Yeah, this is all pretty simple, I know. Incredibly useful, too. I
guess you could call this freeware, as I expect no response. If you like
'em, use 'em. If not, don't. Oh, and there's no warranty either. If
you manage to blow up your system using these, so be it. You'd have
to be pretty creative to do that anyway.
David Kakenmaster
890 N. Tabor Ct.
Castle Rock, CO 80104
PS- If you do use 'em & like 'em, spread this archive around. It's good
to turn others on to easier ways with DOS. They'll like you for it.
Please keep the archive intact and unchanged. Feel free to change
the unarchived files you use to suit your needs.