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6 .TH FDFORMAT 1 "Feb 28, 2007"
7 .SH NAME
8 fdformat \- format floppy diskette or PCMCIA memory card
9 .SH SYNOPSIS
10 .LP
11 .nf
12 \fBfdformat\fR [\fB-dDeEfHlLmMUqvx\fR] [\fB-b\fR \fIlabel\fR] [\fB-B\fR \fIfilename\fR]
13 [\fB-t\fR \fIdostype\fR] [\fIdevname\fR]
14 .fi
16 .SH DESCRIPTION
17 .sp
18 .LP
19 The \fBfdformat\fR utility has been superseded by \fBrmformat\fR(1), which
20 provides most but not all of \fBfdformat\fR's functionality.
21 .sp
22 .LP
23 \fBfdformat\fR is used to format diskettes and \fBPCMCIA\fR memory cards. All
24 new blank diskettes or \fBPCMCIA\fR memory cards must be formatted before they
25 can be used.
26 .sp
27 .LP
28 \fBfdformat\fR formats and verifies the media and indicates whether any bad
29 sectors were encountered. All existing data on the diskette or \fBPCMCIA\fR
30 memory card, if any, is destroyed by formatting. If no device name is given,
31 \fBfdformat\fR uses the diskette as a default.
32 .sp
33 .LP
34 By default, \fBfdformat\fR uses the configured capacity of the drive to format
35 the diskette. A \fB3.5\fR inch high-density drive uses diskettes with a
36 formatted capacity of \fB1.44MB\fR. A \fB5.25\fR inch high-density drive uses
37 diskettes with a formatted capacity of \fB1.2MB\fR. In either case, a density
38 option does not have to be specified to \fBfdformat\fR. However, a density
39 option must be specified when using a diskette with a lower capacity than the
40 drive's default. Use the \fB-H\fR option to format high-density diskettes
41 (\fB1.44MB\fR capacity) in an extra-high-density (\fBED\fR) drive. Use the
42 \fB-D\fR option, the \fB-l\fR option, or the \fB-L\fR option to format double-
43 density (or low-density) diskettes (\fB720KB\fR capacity) in an \fBHD\fR or
44 \fBED\fR drive. To format medium-density diskettes (\fB1.2MB\fR capacity), use
45 the \fB-M\fR option with \fB-t\fR \fBnec\fR (this is the same as using the
46 \fB-m\fR option with \fB-t\fR \fBnec\fR).
47 .sp
48 .LP
49 Extended density uses double-sided, extended-density or extra-high-density
50 (\fBDS\fR/\fBED\fR) diskettes. Medium and high densities use the same media:
51 double-sided, high-density (\fBDS\fR/\fBHD\fR) diskettes. Double (low) density
52 uses double-sided, double-density (\fBDS\fR/\fBDD\fR
53 .sp
54 .LP
55 \fBD\fR) diskettes. Substituting diskettes of one density for diskettes of
56 either a higher or lower density generally does not work. Data integrity cannot
57 be assured whenever a diskette is formatted to a capacity not matching its
58 density.
59 .sp
60 .LP
61 A \fBPCMCIA\fR memory card with densities from \fB512KB\fR to \fB64MB\fR may be
62 formatted.
63 .sp
64 .LP
65 \fBfdformat\fR writes new identification and data fields for each sector on all
66 tracks unless the \fB-x\fR option is specified. For diskettes, each sector is
67 verified if the \fB-v\fR option is specified.
68 .sp
69 .LP
70 After formatting and verifying, \fBfdformat\fR writes an operating-system label
71 on block \fB0\fR. Use the \fB-t\fR \fBdos\fR option (same as the \fB-d\fR
72 option) to put an \fBMS-DOS\fR file system on the diskette or \fBPCMCIA\fR
73 memory card after the format is done. Use the \fB-t\fR \fBnec\fR option with
74 the \fB-M\fR option (same as the \fB-m\fR option) to put an \fBNEC-DOS\fR file
75 system on a diskette. Otherwise, \fBfdformat\fR writes a \fBSunOS\fR label in
76 block \fB0\fR.
77 .SH OPTIONS
78 .sp
79 .LP
80 The following options are supported:
81 .sp
82 .ne 2
83 .na
84 \fB\fB-b\fR \fIlabel\fR\fR
85 .ad
86 .RS 15n
87 Labels the media with volume label. A SunOS volume label is restricted to 8
88 characters. A \fBDOS\fR volume label is restricted to 11 upper-case characters.
89 .RE
91 .sp
92 .ne 2
93 .na
94 \fB\fB-B\fR \fIfilename\fR\fR
95 .ad
96 .RS 15n
97 Installs special boot loader in filename on an \fBMS-DOS\fR diskette. This
98 option is only meaningful when the \fB-d\fR option (or \fB-t\fR \fBdos\fR) is
99 also specified.
100 .RE
102 .sp
103 .ne 2
104 .na
105 \fB\fB-D\fR\fR
106 .ad
107 .RS 15n
108 Formats a \fB720KB\fR (3.5 inch) or \fB360KB\fR (5.25 inch) double-density
109 diskette (same as the \fB-l\fR or \fB-L\fR options). This is the default for
110 double-density type drives. It is needed if the drive is a high- or
111 extended-density type.
112 .RE
114 .sp
115 .ne 2
116 .na
117 \fB\fB-e\fR\fR
118 .ad
119 .RS 15n
120 Ejects the diskette when done. This feature is not available on all systems.
121 .RE
123 .sp
124 .ne 2
125 .na
126 \fB\fB-E\fR\fR
127 .ad
128 .RS 15n
129 Formats a \fB2.88MB\fR (3.5 inch) extended-density diskette. This is the
130 default for extended-density type drives.
131 .RE
133 .sp
134 .ne 2
135 .na
136 \fB\fB-f\fR\fR
137 .ad
138 .RS 15n
139 Forces formatting, that is, this option does not ask for confirmation before
140 starting format.
141 .RE
143 .sp
144 .ne 2
145 .na
146 \fB\fB-H\fR\fR
147 .ad
148 .RS 15n
149 Formats a \fB1.44MB\fR (3.5 inch) or \fB1.2MB\fR (5.25 inch) high-density
150 diskette. This is the default for high-density type drives; it is needed if the
151 drive is the extended-density type.
152 .RE
154 .sp
155 .ne 2
156 .na
157 \fB\fB-M\fR\fR
158 .ad
159 .RS 15n
160 Writes a \fB1.2MB\fR (3.5 inch) medium-density format on a high-density
161 diskette (use only with the -t nec option). This is the same as using \fB-m\fR.
162 .sp
163 This feature is not available on all systems.
164 .RE
166 .sp
167 .ne 2
168 .na
169 \fB\fB-q\fR\fR
170 .ad
171 .RS 15n
172 Quiet; does not print status messages.
173 .RE
175 .sp
176 .ne 2
177 .na
178 \fB\fB-t\fR \fBdos\fR\fR
179 .ad
180 .RS 15n
181 Installs an \fBMS-DOS\fR file system and boot sector formatting. This is
182 equivalent to the \fBDOS\fR format command or the \fB-d\fR option.
183 .RE
185 .sp
186 .ne 2
187 .na
188 \fB\fB-t\fR \fBnec\fR\fR
189 .ad
190 .RS 15n
191 Installs an \fBNEC-DOS\fR file system and boot sector on the disk after
192 formatting. This should be used only with the \fB-M\fR option. This feature is
193 not available on all systems.
194 .RE
196 .sp
197 .ne 2
198 .na
199 \fB\fB-U\fR\fR
200 .ad
201 .RS 15n
202 Performs \fBumount\fR on any file systems and then formats. See
203 \fBmount\fR(1M).
204 .RE
206 .sp
207 .ne 2
208 .na
209 \fB\fB-v\fR\fR
210 .ad
211 .RS 15n
212 Verifies each block of the diskette after the format.
213 .RE
215 .sp
216 .ne 2
217 .na
218 \fB\fB-x\fR\fR
219 .ad
220 .RS 15n
221 Skips the format and only writes a SunOS label or an \fBMS-DOS\fR file system.
222 .RE
224 .SH OPERANDS
225 .sp
226 .LP
227 The following operands are supported:
228 .sp
229 .ne 2
230 .na
231 \fB\fIdevname\fR\fR
232 .ad
233 .RS 11n
234 Replaces \fIdevname\fR with \fBrdiskette0\fR (systems without volume
235 management) or \fBfloppy0\fR (systems with volume management) to use the first
236 drive or rdiskette1 (systems without volume management) or \fBfloppy1\fR
237 (systems with volume management) to use the second drive. If \fIdevname\fR is
238 omitted, the first drive, if one exists, is used. For \fBPCMCIA\fR memory
239 cards, replace \fIdevname\fR with the device name for the \fBPCMCIA\fR memory
240 card which resides in \fB/dev/rdsk/c\fIN\fRt\fIN\fRd\fIN\fRs\fIN\fR\fR or
241 /dev/dsk/c\fIN\fRt\fIN\fRd\fIN\fRs\fIN\fR. If \fIdevname\fR is omitted, the
242 default diskette drive, if one exists, is used.
243 .sp
244 If devname is omitted, the default diskette drive, if one exists, will be used.
245 \fIN\fR represents a decimal number and can be specified as follows:
246 .sp
247 .ne 2
248 .na
249 \fBc\fIN\fR\fR
250 .ad
251 .RS 6n
252 Controller \fIN\fR
253 .RE
255 .sp
256 .ne 2
257 .na
258 \fBt\fIN\fR\fR
259 .ad
260 .RS 6n
261 Technology type \fIN\fR:
262 .sp
263 .in +2
264 .nf
266 0x1 ROM
267 0x2 OTPROM
268 0x3 EPROM
269 0x4 EEPROM
270 0x5 FLASH
271 0x6 SRAM
272 0x7 DRAM
273 .fi
274 .in -2
275 .sp
277 .RE
279 .sp
280 .ne 2
281 .na
282 \fBd\fIN\fR\fR
283 .ad
284 .RS 6n
285 Technology region in type \fIN\fR.
286 .RE
288 .sp
289 .ne 2
290 .na
291 \fBs\fIN\fR\fR
292 .ad
293 .RS 6n
294 Slice \fIN\fR.
295 .RE
297 The following options are provided for compatibility with previous versions of
298 \fBfdformat\fR. Their use is discouraged.
299 .sp
300 .ne 2
301 .na
302 \fB\fB-d\fR\fR
303 .ad
304 .RS 6n
305 Formats an \fBMS-DOS\fR floppy diskette or \fBPCMCIA\fR memory card (same as
306 \fB-t\fR \fBdos\fR). This is equivalent to the \fBMS-DOS FORMAT\fR command.
307 .RE
309 .sp
310 .ne 2
311 .na
312 \fB\fB-l\fR\fR
313 .ad
314 .RS 6n
315 Formats a \fB720KB\fR (3.5 inch) or \fB360KB\fR (5.25 inch) double-density
316 diskette (same as \fB-D\fR or \fB-L\fR). This is the default for double-density
317 type drives; it is needed if the drive is the high- or extended-density type.
318 .RE
320 .sp
321 .ne 2
322 .na
323 \fB\fB-L\fR\fR
324 .ad
325 .RS 6n
326 Formats a \fB720KB\fR (3.5 inch) or \fB360KB\fR (5.25 inch) double-density
327 diskette (same as \fB-l\fR or \fB-D\fR). This is the default for double-density
328 type drives.
329 .RE
331 .sp
332 .ne 2
333 .na
334 \fB\fB-m\fR\fR
335 .ad
336 .RS 6n
337 Writes a \fB1.2 MB\fR (3.5 inch) medium- density format on a high-density
338 diskette (use only with the \fB-t\fR \fBnec\fR option). This is the same as
339 using \fB-M\fR. This feature is not available on all systems.
340 .RE
342 .RE
344 .SH FILES
345 .sp
346 .ne 2
347 .na
348 \fB/dev/diskette0\fR
349 .ad
350 .RS 24n
351 Directory providing block device access for the media in floppy drive \fB0\fR.
352 .RE
354 .sp
355 .ne 2
356 .na
357 \fB/dev/diskette0\fR
358 .ad
359 .RS 24n
360 Directory providing character device access for the media in floppy drive
361 \fB0\fR.
362 .RE
364 .sp
365 .ne 2
366 .na
367 \fB/dev/aliases/floppy0\fR
368 .ad
369 .RS 24n
370 Symbolic link to the character device for the media in floppy drive \fB0\fR.
371 .RE
373 .sp
374 .ne 2
375 .na
376 \fB/dev/rdiskette\fR
377 .ad
378 .RS 24n
379 Directory providing character device access for the media in the primary floppy
380 drive, usually drive \fB0\fR.
381 .RE
383 .sp
384 .ne 2
385 .na
386 \fB/dev/dsk/c\fIN\fRt\fIN\fRd\fIN\fRs\fIN\fR\fR
387 .ad
388 .RS 24n
389 Directory providing block device access for the \fBPCMCIA\fR memory card. See
390 OPERANDS for a description of \fIN\fR.
391 .RE
393 .sp
394 .ne 2
395 .na
396 \fB/dev/rdsk/c\fIN\fRt\fIN\fRd\fIN\fRs\fIN\fR\fR
397 .ad
398 .RS 24n
399 Directory providing character device access for the \fBPCMCIA\fR memory card.
400 See OPERANDS for a description of \fIN\fR.
401 .RE
403 .sp
404 .ne 2
405 .na
406 \fB/dev/aliases/pcmem\fIS\fR\fR
407 .ad
408 .RS 24n
409 Symbolic link to the character device for the \fBPCMCIA\fR memory card in
410 socket \fIS\fR where \fIS\fR represents a \fBPCMCIA\fR socket number.
411 .RE
413 .sp
414 .ne 2
415 .na
416 \fB/dev/rdsk/c\fIN\fRt\fIN\fRd\fIN\fRs\fIN\fR\fR
417 .ad
418 .RS 24n
419 Directory providing character device access for the \fBPCMCIA\fR memory card.
420 See OPERANDS for a description of \fIN\fR.
421 .RE
423 .sp
424 .ne 2
425 .na
426 \fB/dev/dsk/c\fIN\fRt\fIN\fRd\fIN\fRs\fIN\fR\fR
427 .ad
428 .RS 24n
429 Directory providing block device access for the \fBPCMCIA\fR memory card. See
430 OPERANDS for a description of \fIN\fR.
431 .RE
433 .SH SEE ALSO
434 .sp
435 .LP
436 \fBcpio\fR(1), \fBeject\fR(1), \fBrmformat\fR(1), \fBtar\fR(1),
437 \fBvolcheck\fR(1), \fBvolrmmount\fR(1), \fBmount\fR(1M), \fBnewfs\fR(1M),
438 \fBprtvtoc\fR(1M), \fBattributes\fR(5), \fBpcfs\fR(7FS)
439 .SS "x86 Only"
440 .sp
441 .LP
442 \fBfd\fR(7D)
443 .SH NOTES
444 .sp
445 .LP
446 A diskette or \fBPCMCIA\fR memory card containing a \fBufs\fR file system
447 created on a SPARC based system (by using \fBfdformat\fR and \fBnewfs\fR(1M)),
448 is not identical to a diskette or \fBPCMCIA\fR memory card containing a ufs
449 file system created on an x86 based system. Do not interchange ufs diskettes or
450 memory cards between these platforms. Use \fBcpio\fR(1) or \fBtar\fR(1) to
451 transfer files on diskettes or memory cards between them. A diskette or
452 \fBPCMCIA\fR memory card formatted using the \fB-t\fR \fBdos\fR option (or
453 \fB-d\fR) for \fBMS-DOS\fR does not have the necessary system files, and is
454 therefore not bootable. Trying to boot from it on a \fBPC\fR produces the
455 following message:
456 .sp
457 .in +2
458 .nf
459 Non-System disk or disk error.
460 Replace and strike any key when ready
461 .fi
462 .in -2
463 .sp
465 .SH BUGS
466 .sp
467 .LP
468 Currently, bad sector mapping is not supported on floppy diskettes or
469 \fBPCMCIA\fR memory cards. Therefore, a diskette or memory card is unusable if
470 \fBfdformat\fR finds an error (bad sector).