Depending on the DOS version you are using there are limits to the size of hard disk it supports:ĭOS v3.3 supports hard disks up to 32 MB formatted capacity.ĭOS v4.0 supports hard disks up to 512 MB formatted capacity.ĭOS v5.0 supports hard disks up to 2 GB formatted capacity. Even if you only want a single drive letter, say C:, for the entire drive, you must still run FDISK and define a single partition. Step 2) Run FDISKįDISK.exe is an external DOS command which is used to "partition" the hard disk (split it up into usable areas) after it's been low-level formatted. If you have no luck with DEBUG, or you know your hard disk controller doesn't have a low-level format utility stored in a ROM, you can use a utility called Seagate Disk Manager. It's worth mentioning that not all MFM/RLL hard disk controllers have a ROM BIOS with a formatter embedded within. G=C800:5 for DTC (Data Technonolgy) controllers G=C800:6 for OMTI controllers Now type one of the following commands, depending on your hard disk controller manufacturer: G=C800:5 If you know you need to use the DEBUG.COM utility, follow these steps:Īfter booting your PC using a floppy disk, at the A: prompt type: On Zenith PCs there was a Zenith DOS command called PREP. This contained a convenient program to perform the low-level format. There are exceptions though, such as the original IBM PC XT 10MB hard disk which came with the IBM Advanced Diagnostics diskette. Hence permanent damage can (and probably will) occur if you do this!įor old MFM or RLL hard disk drives, each hard disk manufacturer would provide instructions on how to low-level format the drive - this typically involved using the DOS DEBUG.COM program to communicate directly with the hard disk controller card and send it an instruction to low-level format the hard disk (these hard disk controllers had a "ROM BIOS extension" with a low-level format program built-in). If you're wanting to format an IDE or SCSI hard disk these come from the factory already low-level formatted, so jump straight to step 2.Īgain, to be clear: WARNING: DO NOT LOW-LEVEL FORMAT AN IDE DRIVE! They have special hidden areas of the drive that store information about its capacity which is wiped out if low-level formatted. This step is *only* needed if you have an extremely old MFM or RLL hard disk drive. Low-level formatting a hard disk actually physically formats it - it actually lays down tracks and sectors and it wipes all data off the drive. In the early days of the PC there were 3 programs you needed to run to format a hard disk:ģ) Run FORMAT.exe to "high-level format" the disk. Formatting a hard disk in DOS requires a few more tasks and careful thinking compared to formatting a floppy disk.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |