Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Command
Function
The
FORMAT
command is used to initialize a floppy or hard disk.
The command should be used with caution since it will generally
not be possible to recover any data which was previously present.
Various options are available including:
/1
single-sided format
/8
format with 8 sectors per track
/B
leave space for system tracks to be added (using the
SYS
command)
/N:8
format with 8 sectors per track
/S
write system tracks during formatting (note that this
must be the last option specified when more than one
option is required)
/T:80
format with 80 tracks
/V
format and then prompt for a volume label
Examples:
FORMAT A:
formats the disk placed in drive A:.
FORMAT B:/S
formats the disk placed in drive B: as a system disk.
FORMAT
The
JOIN
command provides a means of associating a drive with
a particular directory path. The command must be used with
care and must not be used with
ASSIGN
,
BACKUP
,
DISKCOPY
,
FORMAT
, etc.
JOIN
The
KEYB
command invokes the DOS keyboard driver.
KEYB
replaces earlier utilities (such as
KEYBUK
) which were provided
with DOS versions prior to MS-DOS 3.3. The command is
usually incorporated in an AUTOEXEC.BAT file and must
specify the country letters required.
Example:
KEYB UK
selects the UK keyboard layout.
KEYB
The
LABEL
command allows a volume label (maximum 11
characters) to be placed in the disk directory.
Example:
LABEL A: TOOLS
will label the disk present in drive A: as TOOLS. This label will
subsequently appear when the directory is displayed.
LABEL
The
MODE
command can be used to select a range of screen and
printer options.
MODE
is an extremely versatile command and
offers a wide variety of options.
MODE
(
continued
)
