format in MSDOS 2.11 Rev B1
Ivan E.Della Bianca
The default for this version is formatting at 180 kB and I don't
know the switch to use after the format command.
I am not crazy, I need this release because I need diskettes for a laser
tool to cut alumina panel for microwaves. The laser is a numeric
control device, and it can read only diskettes formatted by this
version of DOS.
I called Microsoft, and they told me that they can't help me, becauase
I am not registered for that version of DOS (I registered rel 5.0, 6.0
and 6.22). It is incredible, but they wasted more time to say to me
"we don't help you" than to say to me the switch I need.
Microsoft thinks to be able to do what it wants.
I don't know an English word, in Italias I'd say that they are
"stronzi".
Can anyone help me?
Thank you
--
Eugenio Ivan Dellabianca | Tel. +39 2 95259 722
Rep. 0021, Siemens Telecomunicazioni | Fax +39 2 95259 556
Strada Statale 11 Pad. Sup. km 158 | E-mail iv...@scn.de
20060 Cassina de' Pecchi, MI Italy | WWW http://www.scn.de/~ivan
Christopher Pinder
In article <31247D50...@scn.de>, "Ivan E.Della Bianca" (iv...@scn.de) writes:
<SNIP>
>I called Microsoft, and they told me that they can't help me, becauase
>I am not registered for that version of DOS (I registered rel 5.0, 6.0
>and 6.22). It is incredible, but they wasted more time to say to me
>"we don't help you" than to say to me the switch I need.
>Microsoft thinks to be able to do what it wants.
>I don't know an English word, in Italias I'd say that they are
>"stronzi".
Whatever it means its probably not strong enough a word.
Let me get this right, you buy AT LEAST three versions of one of their
products and they refuse to help you with a question regarding its use.
If these three registered versions had been for three UN-RELATED products
then I might (Just Might) understand, but when you consider the fact that
in at least some cases, and for many reasons I'm sure, Microsoft's NEW
version of xxx is just the same old xxx with some of the crap they found
after release 'tidied up', or alternatively just a bolt on of a couple
of 'features' to 'enhance' the product, then I can see very little good
in being pedantic.
The truth, I suspect is that no-one there knows / is bothered enough to
help you. Its also the case that V2.11 was not really a true Microsoft
product insofar as OEM's were able to bugger about with DOS until V3.(?)
The first *true* Microsoft Release was 3.2.
Your 2.11 version could be a different animal depending who wrote it.
Anyway try FORMAT A: /F:360
This is in version 3,4,5,6,7....n of DOS so they might have
had the decency to tell you how to do it in one of your registered
versions.
What's the big deal with Dos V2 *ANYWAY*, We are all busting to buy our
new Pentium based monsters with HUGE hard drives and run V2.11 ;-)
***********************************************************
*Christopher Pinder cri...@termbliss.win-uk.net*
***********************************************************
Charles Dye
"Ivan E.Della Bianca" <iv...@scn.de> wrote:
>I have to format diskettes at 360 kB density by dos 2.11 rev B1.
>The default for this version is formatting at 180 kB and I don't
>know the switch to use after the format command.
>I am not crazy, I need this release because I need diskettes for a laser
>tool to cut alumina panel for microwaves. The laser is a numeric
>control device, and it can read only diskettes formatted by this
>version of DOS.
I'll putz around and try to find it (might be /2 ???) but in the
meantime, why not format the floppies on another machine, and under
a more recent DOS? You can do it with a 1.2M floppy drive using
/F:360.
>I called Microsoft
Damn optimist!
Jerzy Tarasiuk
I> I have to format diskettes at 360 kB density by dos 2.11 rev B1.
I> The default for this version is formatting at 180 kB and I don't
I> know the switch to use after the format command.
I'd expect FORMAT /2 to do what you need. Eventually FORMAT /2 /9
in a case FORMAT /2 formatted 320kB diskettes rather than 360kB.
Charles Dye
Okay. I'm the one who started this pernicious error; I suppose I should
be the one to squish it. FORMAT doesn't have a /2 switch. FORMAT never
did have a /2 switch. My mistake, sorry.
I dug out a copy of IBM DOS 2.0 and played with it. FORMAT defaults to
360K format! There _is_ a /1 to format single-sided disks in a double-
sided drive, but no switch to force a double-sided format. The default
is to format two sides.
My guess: The original poster either has a single-sided drive, or else
has a double-sided drive but the CMOS is set up for a single-sided drive.
(CMOS? Jumpers? Just what kind of antique are we talking about, anyway?)
If the CMOS is set up for a 1.2M drive, I'd try changing it to 360K.