NAME

fdformat − format diskettes for use under SunOS

SYNOPSIS — Sun386i SYSTEMS

fdformat [ −L ] [ −2 ]
fdformat [ −eflLv ] [ device ]

AVAILABLITY

Sun386i and Sun-3/80 systems only. 

DESCRIPTION

fdformat is a program for formatting diskettes to use with the SunOS operating system.  All new blank diskettes must be formatted before use.  fdformat formats and verifies each track on the diskette, and terminates if it finds any bad sectors.  fdformat destroys all existing data on the diskette. 

By default, fdformat formats a 1.44 megabyte high density diskette.  Use the −L or −l option to format low density diskettes. 

On Sun386i systems, use the −2 option to format diskettes in the optional external 5 1/4" floppy drive. 

On Sun-3/80 systems the default device is the internal floppy drive, /dev/rfd0c. 

To format a diskette for use under MS-DOS, use the MS-DOS format command in a DOS window on the Sun386i system. 

OPTIONS

−e Eject the diskette when done. (Sun-3/80 systems only.) 

−f Force.  Do not ask for confirmation before starting format. (Sun-3/80 systems only.) 

−l Format a low density diskette (720 kilobyte) diskette. (Sun-3/80 systems only.) 

−L Format a low density diskette (720 kilobyte) diskette. 

−v Verify the floppy diskette after formatting. (Sun-3/80 systems only.) 

−2 Format a diskette in the optional external 5 1/4" floppy drive.  (Sun386i systems only.) 

FILES — Sun386i SYSTEMS

/dev/rfd0c /dev/rfdl0c /dev/rfd2c /dev/rfdl2c

FILES — SPARCstation 1 SYSTEMS

/dev/rfd0

SEE ALSO

dos(1), fd(4s)

BUGS

The SunOS system currently does not support bad sector mapping on diskettes.  Therefore, a diskette is unusable if fdformat finds an error (bad sector). 

Sun Release 4.0  —  Last change: 6 March 1989