IBM 5150 User Manual

FORMAT-Getting a Diskette Ready to Be Used
The FORMAT command gets a diskette ready to receive
information. FORMAT checks the diskette for bad
spots, builds a directory to hold information
about the
files
that will eventually be written on it, and optionally, ~
copies the DOS system files onto the diskette.
Sometimes the terms "initializing" and "preparing" are
used instead
of "formatting."
You must use FORMAT before you try to use a new
diskette.
You can use FORMAT
if a diskette has developed
defective areas. FORMAT makes sure these areas are
not used for your files. CHKDSK will tell you if there
are defective areas
on your diskette.
You can also use FORMAT
as a way to prepare a diskette
that has information you no longer need for use again.
DO NOT use FORMAT each and every time
you want ~
to put information on a diskette, because FORMAT
wipes
off what was there already.
To sum up,
you need to use FORMAT once per diskette,
when
it is new. Very occasionally you will re-FORMAT
a diskette if
it has defective areas or if you want to
forget what was on it and use it as if it were new.
Before You Begin
Have on hand
your DOS Diskette, and the diskette you
want to format.
Also decide whether
you want a copy of DOS on your
new diskette. Sometimes you will want DOS on a
diskette if
you will be putting major programs on it.
On the
other hand, if the diskette is going to be used for
data files, you will probably not want DOS on the
diskette.
DOS 3-50

IBM 5150 Specifications

General

Brand	IBM
Model	5150
Category	Desktop
Language	English