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NFG Forums => SIG PC-98 => Topic started by: YetAnotherJPCUser on July 16, 2022, 05:49:15 AM

Title: How to format a floppy disk on a PC98?
Post by: YetAnotherJPCUser on July 16, 2022, 05:49:15 AM
I have a lot of 1.44mb floppy disks. I would like to format the disks on my actual PC-9821Ce.

format b: does always format it to 1.4mb again.

How can I change it to 1.2mb ?

I'd appreciate any help. Thanks :-)
Title: Re: How to format a floppy disk on a PC98?
Post by: JulBS0 on July 18, 2022, 03:46:34 PM
Hi,

I can't check right now whether PC-98 DOS versions of the FORMAT command have that option, but the /F option is meant to set the volume size.

The following should do the trick: format /F:1200 B:


EDIT: I've just checked, to force floppies to be formatted as 1.2MB from DOS, use the following:

format B: /M
Title: Re: How to format a floppy disk on a PC98?
Post by: Jehuty on July 19, 2022, 01:01:18 AM
Try:

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe

format A: /f:1.23m

This Works for me on a 64bit Wi10 Machine with USB Floppy for FM Towns disks.
Title: Re: How to format a floppy disk on a PC98?
Post by: YetAnotherJPCUser on July 23, 2022, 08:11:54 PM
Thanks for the hints.

format B: /M
on Pc98 does work for me.

format A: /f:1.23m
On Win10 always fails with a format failed error. I've tried with /x and a few other combinations. I assume my usb floppy drive isn't compatible.
Title: Re: How to format a floppy disk on a PC98?
Post by: Jehuty on July 23, 2022, 10:53:25 PM
you have to start "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe" not the normal command.
Title: Re: How to format a floppy disk on a PC98?
Post by: kazekirifx on September 11, 2022, 11:41:52 AM
Quote from: Jehuty on July 23, 2022, 10:53:25 PMyou have to start "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe" not the normal command.

That will of course only work if you have a 3mode floppy drive.
Title: Re: How to format a floppy disk on a PC98?
Post by: Jehuty on September 11, 2022, 11:35:03 PM
No i use this method with a USB Drive without any special drivers.
Title: Re: How to format a floppy disk on a PC98?
Post by: kazekirifx on September 12, 2022, 08:10:38 AM
Not a driver issue. 3 mode drives are hardware.
Title: Re: How to format a floppy disk on a PC98?
Post by: Jehuty on September 12, 2022, 07:20:19 PM
Ok my English is not so good, but read my posting again and try to understand it.  I know what mode3 is. And i say it again,  i use a USB Floppy drive with this method to format the flopydisks.  And i don`t use any special drivers for that.

Look at YSFlight (http://ysflight.in.coocan.jp/FM/towns/writefdimage/e.html) for more technical details.
Title: Re: How to format a floppy disk on a PC98?
Post by: kazekirifx on September 12, 2022, 09:21:52 PM
Quote from: Jehuty on September 12, 2022, 07:20:19 PMOk my English is not so good, but read my posting again and try to understand it.  I know what mode3 is. And i say it again,  i use a USB Floppy drive with this method to format the flopydisks.  And i don`t use any special drivers for that.

Look at YSFlight (http://ysflight.in.coocan.jp/FM/towns/writefdimage/e.html) for more technical details.


If you can read and format 1.2MB 2HD floppies on just a regular old hard drive purchased in a Western country then that is news to me. I have never been able to do so without a Japanese 3mode floppy drive.

EDIT:

I read your link above and apparently this claims to be a way to create 1.2MB floppies with just any old floppy drive. If is this true, then it is awesome news. I can't test it cause the only floppy drive I have is 3mode.  I don't know why people aren't shouting this news from the rooftops though if it is true.