Commodore Amiga A1200 User Manual page 68

C-4
Guidelines for Using Disks
• You must format a new disk before you use it for storing data.
Before you begin the format, make sure the disk doesn't contain
anything you want to save. Formatting a disk will erase all
data stored on it.
Floppy disks may be formatted with the original Amiga file system
(OFS), the Fast File System (FFS), or the MS-DOS compatible
CrossDOS file system. You can also format disks (OFS and FFS
only) with a directory-caching option for faster response in opening
disk windows and reading disk directories. This option slightly
decreases the amount of space on the disk.
You therefore have the following options in formatting disks in the
Amiga's floppy drive.
Table C-1. Floppy formatting options
Amiga File System
Approximate Formatted Capacity
OFS
FFS
DC-OFS
DC-FFS
CrossDOS
837 KB
879 KB
837 KB
879 KB
720
KB
Note Disks formatted with the directory-caching option
cannot be read by Amigas with earlier versions of
the system software. Do not format a disk with the
directory-caching option if you need to use the disk
to transfer files to an Amiga with Release 2 or
earlier system software.
Also, you should not attempt to use standard disk
repair utilities on such disks. Disk utilities not
developed with the directory-caching feature in
mind will not properly recognize the new disk
format and could damage the data on the disks.