Documentation< Previous | Contents | Next >
Formatting Floppy Disks
For those of us still using computers old enough to be equipped with floppy diskette drives, we can manage those devices, too. Preparing a blank floppy for use is a two step process. First, we perform a low-level format on the diskette, and then create a file sys- tem. To accomplish the formatting, we use the fdformat program specifying the name of the floppy device (usually /dev/fd0):
[me@linuxbox ~]$ sudo fdformat /dev/fd0
Double-sided, 80 tracks, 18 sec/track. Total capacity 1440 kB. Formatting ... done
Verifying ... done
[me@linuxbox ~]$ sudo fdformat /dev/fd0
Double-sided, 80 tracks, 18 sec/track. Total capacity 1440 kB. Formatting ... done
Verifying ... done
Next, we apply a FAT file system to the diskette with mkfs:
[me@linuxbox ~]$ sudo mkfs -t msdos /dev/fd0
[me@linuxbox ~]$ sudo mkfs -t msdos /dev/fd0
Notice that we use the “msdos” file system type to get the older (and smaller) style file allocation tables. After a diskette is prepared, it may be mounted like other devices.