How to format a floppy disk on a PC98?

[YetAnotherJPCUser]

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 :-)

[JulBS0]

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:

Code Select Expand

format B: /M

[Jehuty]

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.

[YetAnotherJPCUser]

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.

[Jehuty]

you have to start "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe" not the normal command.

[kazekirifx]

you 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.

[Jehuty]

No i use this method with a USB Drive without any special drivers.

[kazekirifx]

Not a driver issue. 3 mode drives are hardware.

[Jehuty]

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 for more technical details.

[kazekirifx]

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 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.