3.2 720KB, 1.4MB, and 2.8MB Disks
There are now three 3.5 inch disk formats for IBM and compatible computers. One
is the
nOKB
format which is used by the IBM iaptop computer and several other
laptops. Another popular diskformat is the
IAMB
high-density format introduced
on the PS/2 model 50 and higher-level models. The PS/2 models that support the
1.4MB format are also capable
of
using the
nOKB
disks. The 2.8MB format is
new and at the time
of
this writing has not been available from IBM. 2.8MB drive
upgrades (like
megamate
2.8)
are also capable
of
using the IAMB diskettes and
the
nOKB
diskettes.
Megamate
will automatically sense the format
of
the disk being used, whether it
is
nOKB,
1.4MB, or2.8MB and adjust itselfaccordingly. The only time you have
to select a format
is
when initializing a new blank disk to one
of
the three formats.
High-density diskettes can be easily distinguished from double density diskettes
because they have
an
extra hole molded into the case. Holding a 3.5 inch diskette
in
your hand with the spindle hole facing down and the access door facing away
from you, the write protect hole will be in the left hand comer nearest you.
If
the
disk has a similar hole
in
the righthand comer nearest you, it is a high-density disk.
Extended Density diskettes, used for the 2.8MB format, have two holes molded
into them, just like high-density diskettes. They will also have an
"ED"
printed on
them to signify that they are extended density.
3.3 Initializing Disks
Brand new diskettes are blank and must be initialized to the
nOKB,
1.4MB, or
2.8MB format before they can be used. Diskettes that have already been used can
be re-initialized as a way
of
completely erasing them.
High-density 3.5 inch diskettes are actually a different type
of
diskette than the
double-density variety. Diskettes should only be initialized to the format for which
they were intended. Initializing double-density diskettes to 1.4MB format will
result
in
unreliable operation, as will initializing high-density diskettes to
nOKB
format. The same holds true for extended density diskettes.
Two programs are included for initializing diskettes with
megamate
:
MMFORMAT and BACKFMT. MMFORMAT
is
a command line driven disk
initialization utility, similar
in
usage to the DOS FORMATcommand. BACKFMT
is
a "pop-up"disk initializer that can be used
in
the background while you continue
working on another application.
3-2
Usin Me amate
3.3.1 MMFORMAT
Syntax
MMFORMAT drive letter options
Purpose
MMFORMAT is a diskette initialization utility for use only with your
megamate
drive. Similar
in
use to the DOS FORMATutility, MMFORMAT
allows you to initialize blank diskettes into all DOS 3.5 inch formats.
Options
/no
creates a
nOKB
diskette
/1A creates a 1.4MB diskette
/2.8 creates a 2.8MB diskette
(megamate
2.8
only)
N prompts for a volume label after the diskette
is
initialized
/S
copi~s
the operating system files to the diskette after initialization
Description
The drive letter, followed by a colon(:), shou
ld
be your
megamate
drive.
The format option determines which format will be used. It consists
of
a
forward slash (f) followed by three character
s.
Ifyou enter the MMFORMAT
command without specifying a format option, the highest capacity format
supported will be used. This conforms to the precedent set with the DOS
FORMAT command.
Make sure you have high capacity diskettes if you are trying to use a high
capacity format, orelse initialization errors and dala loss will probably occur.
You may initialize a blank diskette or reinitialize an existing diskette, but
remember that initialization will erase any existing data on the diskette.
For this example, assume that drive D
is
a
megamate
1.4MB drive:
A>
mmformat
d:
/720.J
would initialize the diskette
in
drive D to the
nOKB
format.
A>
mmformat
d:
/1.
4
/s.J
would initialize the diskette
in
driveD to the
IAMB
high capacityformat used
by the IBM PS/2 computers and place a copy
of
DOS on the disk, making it
a DOS system disk.
