Ok I bought a box of DS/HD disks from the old computer store. And 1 DS/DD, when i got home i turned on my computer and went to C:\> then typed b: when the DS/DD was in the drive. I typed FORMAT B: and it said the disk size was not recognized. So I looked on Google for a program to format it. I wanted it at its DS/DD low density format so I downloaded NFORMAT!. I went to 720MB and formatted it. So I need help finding a forrmating program. And I ran scandisk on it and lots of boot sectors were damaged so does anyone know of a DOS boot sector repairing program. I also want to know it 720MB is the low density for a DS/DD disk. Thanks.

"Even If Its Old Its Still A Good Computer"

Work in DOS and use the commands available in the link below.

http://www.answers.com/topic/dos-fo...

Here is another useful link.

http://www.easydos.com/format.html

What's the model # of the 5 1/4? Some will not format low density.

360K is low density for 5 1/4 for most uses. Hi density is 1.2 meg. For 3 1/2, low density is 720K and hi is 1.44 meg.

From the dos prompt type format/? to get switches for formatting to oddball and unnecessary sizes.

Jacob - your first attempt was wrong and you may have corrupted the DD floppy.

OtheHill's second link is best as it details more options for the format command.

The standard dos format program should work.

*Stay on drive C:*

For HD use:-

FORMAT B: /f:1.2

For the failing DD try:-

FORMAT B: /f:360 /u /c

If it fails with boot sector error or similar, this is most likely due to your incorrect formatting. The trick then is to 'break' the disc. Try formatting again and just as it starts, switch off the computer.

Advise how you get on.

Good Luck - Keep us posted

Ok I used format b:/4 and it fixed it back to 360KB. So all I need is a boot sector fixing program.

"Even If Its Old Its Still A Good Computer"

You would be better to post in the Win3.11 or DOS forums for anything that old.

Anyone know of one?

"Even If Its Old Its Still A Good Computer"

Jacob - the dos Format /C option I advised fixes (if possible) clusters that have been marked as failed and thus unusable, by testing and if usable resetting for such.

Without this option format does not test failed clusters.

Before and after formatting, run CHKDSK. In these circumstances it is better than SCANDISK.

If you look at the left of this screen you will see the other forums OtheHill suggests.

Good Luck - Keep us posted.

Thanks guys I just used format b:/c and chkdsk then It worked perfectley. Oh and go and check out how to put Windows 95 on 5.25 disks on Windows 95/98

"Even If Its Old Its Still A Good Computer"