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MS-DOS Commands 59
The /4 switch formats a double-sided disk in a high-capacity disk
drive. Note, however, that if you are using a single- or double-
/0m^
sided drive, you may not be able to reliably read disks formatted
(
) with this switch.
The /8 switch formats a disk for 8 sectors per track. If you do not
-*■*.
specify this switch, format defaults to either 9 or 15 sectors per
(
'
track (depending on the type of drive being used). Note that
format always creates either 9 or 15 sectors per track; when you
specify this switch, though, it tells ms-dos to use only 8 sectors per
f)
track.
The /b switch formats a disk with 8 sectors per track and allocates
^<fc^^
space for the hidden system files. If you use this switch with the
\]
format command, you can place any version of ms-dos on the disk
by using that version's sys command. If you don't use this /b
switch, you can place only ms-dos 32 on the disk by using the sys
/*""^
command. You cannot use the /s or the /v switch with the /b
switch.
The /n-jcx option specifies the number of sectors per track that
//-"s\
format uses to format a floppy disk.
The Ityy option specifies the number of tracks that format places
on a floppy disk.
(
)
The /v switch prompts for a volume label after the disk is format
ted. A volume label identifies the disk and can be up to 11 charac
ters in length. An example of a volume label is PROGRAMS.
BSSBSSSaBSS^^
'
*
If you use the /s switch, it must be the last switch that you type.
Copying the operating
This switch copies the operating system files from the disk in the
system
^>s^
default drive to the newly formatted disk. The files are copied in
(;
the following order:
io.sys
r—N
msdos.sys
command.com
{]
If the operating system is not on the default drive, format
prompts you to insert a system disk in the default drive (or in
drive A if the default drive is non-removable).
f)
When formatting is complete, format displays a message showing
the total disk space, any space marked as defective, the total space
used by the operating system (when you use the /s switch), and
f00*}
the space available for your files.
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