How to Use fdformat to Reformat a Used Diskette

Before You Begin

The simplest way to format, list the contents of, read, copy, or eject a diskette is to use the File Manager tool. Refer to Solaris User's Guide for information about File Manager.

Formatting erases everything on a diskette. Do not format a used diskette unless you want to erase its contents.

If the server is set up without a local console, you need to set up a console on it in order to issue software commands; see:

• "About Setting Up a Console"

If the diskette is write-protected, you have to remove the write protection; see:

• "How to Allow Writing to a Diskette"

What to Do

1. Insert a diskette into the diskette drive.

2. From the console device, enter the fdformat command.

   Type the appropriate command, as listed for your diskette. It takes a minute or two for the system to format the diskette.

   Table 11-2  

   Diskette Density	Storage Capacity  (Formatted)	Command
   High Density (HD)	1.44 Mbytes	fdformat -U
   Medium Density (MD)	1.2 Mbytes	fdformat -mU
   Low Density (2DD)	720 Kbytes	fdformat -lU

You can now write to and read from the diskette.