Actually there is no difference between the DOS or Windows format commands.
They both use the same subroutines to complete the formatting.  They just
have a different visual display.
Neither method can give you any more than the standard 1.44 Meg.

The /U switch just "tells" format to completely erase all the old data.  (a
plain format command only rewrites the FAT and removes the directory entries
leaving all the data intact).

Microsoft and IBM both have programs to format a disk at a slightly higher
density, but not included as part of the DOS, Windows, or OS2 system.  I
think there are several third party programs that can accomplish this also.


Jim Meagher
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Micro Solutions Consulting     Member of The HTML Writers Guild
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: PCSOFT - Personal Computer software discussion list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Kelly Younger
> Sent: Friday, September 11, 1998 9:00 PM
> Feidia wrote:
> >
> > Dear Software Gurus
> >
> > Can anyone please remind me whcih command I need to format a normal
> > 1.44MB floppy disk to higher capicity and still be able to read it.
>
> It seems as though I once read that if you formatted using DOS instead
> of the Windows command you could actually save a few bytes, but it
> certainly wouldn't be anything significant. The command is "format a:/u"
> obviously without quotes.

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