Radio Shack TRS-80 Model II Reference Manual page 121

Utility Programs
5. In some applications you may want to use different directory positions. For
example, if a data (non-system) diskette is to contain only one user file, it may
be efficient to place the directory on track I so that tracks 2-76 are available for
the file.
For another example, suppose tracks 44-49 are flawed, preventing
TRSDOS
from
placing the directory there. In this case, you may locate the primary directory on a
good track, so the diskette will still be usable.
Examples
FORMAT
TRSDOS
will prompt you for the drive to be used, but will use defaults for all the
options.
FORMAT 1 {ID = ACCOUNTS, PW = MOUSE}
TRSDOS
will use drive
1;
the diskette will be named
ACCOUNTS
with the password
MOUSE.
FORMAT {ABS, NONE}
TRSDOS
will prompt you for the drive to be used, will use no verification, and all
other options will be defaulted.
FORMAT 1 {DIR = 01, ALT = 02}
Drive
1,
primary directory on track
1,
alternate on track
2.
This leaves all unused
space in one extent. The resultant diskette can not be used to contain
TRSDOS,
since
there are not seven free tracks immediately following the primary directory.
FORMAT 2 {DIR
=
40}
Drive
2,
primary directory on track
40,
alternate on track
40
+
8
=
48.
When to Format
To prepare a new diskette.
Before you can use a new diskette, you must format it. After formatting,
record the disk name, date of creation and password in a safe place. This will
help you estimate how long a diskette has been in use, and prevent your
forgetting the master password. (For this application, always use the
FULL
verify option.
To erase all data from a diskette.
To "start over" with a diskette, you can format it.
To lock out flawed areas.
After long use, flaws may develop on a diskette. Reformat the diskette to lock
out these tracks while leaving the good tracks available for data storage. Use
the
FULL
verify option for this application.
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