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What is a formatted floppy?

Updated: 12/22/2022
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13y ago

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A floppy disk where everything on it has been removed / deleted, to clean it up for new stuff.

In order to format a floppy, you need to write blank tracks onto it, each containing the necessary sectors, sector headers, and inter-sector and intra-sector gaps. This is done using a special command of the floppy controller which writes a full track at a time.

You then need to write data to the floppy to provide the logical file system. In the FAT 12 file system, that consists of the boot record, the file allocation table, and the root directory.

If you intend to boot from the floppy, then you need to write the rest of the boot record, and the required operating system files, usually IBMBIO.SYS, IBMDOS.SYS, and COMMAND.COM.

If the floppy has been previously formatted, it is possible to skip the physical format part where you write the tracks - just rewrite the file allocation table and the root directory, and the system files if needed, and you will delete all of the files and directories on the floppy.

Often, however, it is better to do the complete format, particularly if you are using the floppy in a different drive.

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Related questions

Why is floppy disk formatted?

Most floppy disks will come pre-formatted. All floppy disks need to be formatted to be usable.


When a floppy disk needs to be formatted?

Before use it..


What is created when a floppy disk is formatted?

adasa namaan


Before a floppy disk can store data it must be?

Formatted


Before a floppy disc can be used it must first be?

formatted


How to convert Floppy disk fat to raw?

RAW is unformatted and unreadable so a floppy which is not formatted is in the raw format


How are floppy drives formatted?

The actual floppy drive itself is not formatted. The drive only spins the floppy disk or diskette. One can format a disk or diskette from the computer control panel. Right click on Drive A (for example), then select format and follow the screen prompts.


What file system used by floppy?

Under Windows, a floppy drive is always formatted using the FAT 12 file system.


What is the formatted capacity of high-density 312 g floppy diskettes?

1.44 MB


What is the name of the single directory created when a floppy drive or logical drive is first formatted?

root directory


Can you use a DOS formatted floppy in UNIX?

Yes you can. Unix understands both FAT32 and NTFS file systems.


Can a floppy from an Atari computer be opened in windows?

No, it will not be in a compatible format. Floppy disks must be formatted in FAT in order for a PC to read them. There may however be Linux tools that will be able to read the data.