NAME

mformat − mtools utility to add a DOS file system to a low-level formatted diskette

SYNOPSIS

mformat [−t tracks] [−h heads] [−s vectors] [−l volumelabel] drive:

OPTIONS

−t tracks
Specifies the number of tracks (not cylinders) on the diskette.

−h heads
Specifies the number of heads (sides) on the diskette.

−s sectors
Specifies the number of sectors per track.

−l volumelabel
Specifies the volume label.  This is an optional option.

DESCRIPTION

Note

You must specify the floppy disk storage device that is to be formatted.  If you do not specify a device, or if a device is not found, the command may incorrectly format a SCSI device which could be a system or data disk. 

The mformat command adds a minimal DOS compatible file system (boot sector, FAT, and root directory) to a UNIX formatted diskette.  If the diskette is unformatted, you must low-format the disk. You can do this with a PC system, or on Tru64 UNIX using either the scu utility or the fddisk utility, depending on your floppy drive.  Tru64 UNIX supports both FDI and SCSI attached 3.5" floppy drives with DD, HD, or ED media.  Not all floppy drives are compatible with ED media. 

The following track/head/sector values are supported:

To format a diskette for other than the ED 2.88MB default capacity, you must specify the number of sectors per track with the −s option. No error is returned if you use mformat to put an ED file system onto an HD floppy, but you will get errors from other utilities if you try to write beyond the physical end of the media. 

RESTRICTIONS

The following restrictions apply:

       •The mformat command requires a low-level format utility from UNIX. 

       •The mformat command does not detect (or record) bad block information. 

EXIT STATUS

The following exit values are returned:

0Success. 

1Failure. 

EXAMPLES

     1.In the following example, a SCSI floppy diskette is formatted at the ED 2.88MB capacity, then a DOS file system is initialized with mformat:

$ /sbin/scu -f /dev/rdisk/dsk/6a format density ED
$ mformat a:

     2.In the following example, an FDI floppy diskette is formatted at the HD 1.44MB capacity, then a DOS file system is initialized with mformat, a file is copied to the diskette, and the mdir command is used to check the contents of the diskette.  The mlabel command is used to add a label and mdir is used to again check the diskette contents.  Finally, a DD file system is placed on the diskette, mcopy is used to place a file on it, and mdir is used to verify the diskette contents:

$ fddisk -fmt /dev/rfd0a
NOTE:  Setting interleave factor to “-i2:4”.
       Use “-i<nnn>[:<ccc>]” option to override.
Disk type: 3.50 inch, HD  (1.44MB)
Number of sectors per track: 18
Number of surfaces:   2
Number of cylinders: 80
Sector size:  512
interleave factor:  2:4
Formatting disk...  Percentage complete:
 Format complete, checking...
 Quick check of disk passes OK.
$ mformat -s 18 a:
$ mcopy README a:
Copying README
$ mdir a:
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory for A:/
README               769    6-04-97   8:59a
       1 File(s)     1456640 bytes free
$ mlabel a:
Volume in drive A is unlabeled
Enter the new volume label (11 characters): hddisk
$ mdir a:Volume in drive A is hddisk
Directory for A:/
README               769    6-04-97   8:59a
       1 File(s)     1456640 bytes free
$ mformat -s 9 -l dddisk a:
$ mcopy README a:README.1
$ mdir a:
 Volume in drive A is dddisk
 Directory for A:/
README   1           769    6-04-97   9:16a
       1 File(s)     729088 bytes free

     3.In the following example, an unformatted 2.8Mb floppy diskette is formatted using the scu command, followed by the mformat command.  Once it is formatted by both the scu and mformat commands, it is ready for use:

$ /sbin/scu -f /dev/disk/floppy format density ED
$ mformat -t 80 -h 2 -s 36 a:

FILES

/usr/bin/mtools/mformat
Executable file

SEE ALSO

Commands: mlabel(1), mtools(1)

Utilities: fddisk(8), scu(8)

Floppy disk interface: fd(7)