dbminter Posted September 19, 2005 Posted September 19, 2005 Can anyone recommend a floppy format utility for Windows? I need something that is not command driven. (Although command switches would be a bonus. ) I need a GUI. Something that doesn't run the FORMAT.COM unless it does run FORMAT.COM BUT displays any messages, regardless of if they're errors or not, returned by the format. Preferably, this GUI would also display a time bar or some indication that the format is running/accessing the floppy drive. This PC case was designed by an idiot. The bezel overs the floppy so that 1.) the eject button hardly works and requires a tool to get the disks out of the slot once ejected 2.) the floppy drive light is covered so there's hardly any way to know if the drive is being accessed. Thanks!
kirk1701™ Posted September 19, 2005 Posted September 19, 2005 Can anyone recommend a floppy format utility for Windows? I need something that is not command driven. (Although command switches would be a bonus. ) I need a GUI. Something that doesn't run the FORMAT.COM unless it does run FORMAT.COM BUT displays any messages, regardless of if they're errors or not, returned by the format. Preferably, this GUI would also display a time bar or some indication that the format is running/accessing the floppy drive. This PC case was designed by an idiot. The bezel overs the floppy so that 1.) the eject button hardly works and requires a tool to get the disks out of the slot once ejected 2.) the floppy drive light is covered so there's hardly any way to know if the drive is being accessed. Thanks! Right click A drive and choose format from the contex menu Or you can do like me dumb ass and just lay the floppy on top of the power adapter to my laptop
dbminter Posted September 19, 2005 Author Posted September 19, 2005 Sorry, I should have also included, "NO context menus." Yeah, I'm fully aware of the right click, but, right clicking is DUMB! While a good idea in concept, a poor idea in execution because you never know when Windows will just decide to ignore your right clicks, display an incomplete context menu, display it bleeding down what is SUPPOSED to be the bottom of the screen, etc. I hate context menus and avoid them whenever I can. I guess the Format context MIGHT be a part of Computer Management. I'll check.
dbminter Posted September 19, 2005 Author Posted September 19, 2005 (edited) Another reason to avoid the context format for floppies. If the floppy has a bad sector, the context menu will NOT "load" because it keeps trying to access the disk first. And, ejecting the disk and trying to select Format won't work because Windows complains that, yes, there is no floppy in the drive! What a bunch of fuquers! Oh, and, care to harbor a guess if Computer Management did any good? Edited September 19, 2005 by dbminter
kirk1701™ Posted September 20, 2005 Posted September 20, 2005 Another reason to avoid the context format for floppies. If the floppy has a bad sector, the context menu will NOT "load" because it keeps trying to access the disk first. And, ejecting the disk and trying to select Format won't work because Windows complains that, yes, there is no floppy in the drive! What a bunch of fuquers! Oh, and, care to harbor a guess if Computer Management did any good? Without looking and going from memory only I'm going to say NO, computer Management did no good because it does not see a floppy drive, only CD and DVD rom drives. Now, I could be wrong on that so let me know as you got me curious As for not liking context menu's, my other option works just as good db, lay the floppy ontop of the tower near the back by the PSU will create just enough of a magnetic field to erase the disk
dbminter Posted September 20, 2005 Author Posted September 20, 2005 Well, Computer Management DOES find fixed discs, too. So, it finds fixed discs and removable discs like CD and DVD... but not floppies... idiots! As for using the magnet idea, technically, no it's not a good idea. Because if you use it, you STILL have to format it afterwards in order to use it. So, why use an unnecessary extra step?
kirk1701™ Posted September 20, 2005 Posted September 20, 2005 Well, Computer Management DOES find fixed discs, too. So, it finds fixed discs and removable discs like CD and DVD... but not floppies... idiots! Who idiots? I said it does not see a floppy drive, only CD and DVD rom drives. As for using the magnet idea, technically, no it's not a good idea. Because if you use it, you STILL have to format it afterwards in order to use it. So, why use an unnecessary extra step? We'll, you got me there, thats true
dbminter Posted September 20, 2005 Author Posted September 20, 2005 By idiots, I meant those who designed how Computer Management works. They're called Microsoft. Yeah, they call it COMPUTER Management... eh, too bad, though, it doesn't manage ALL of your computer, right? Think they care?
LIGHTNING UK! Posted September 20, 2005 Posted September 20, 2005 hdtools could be made to support reading/writing floppy sectors I think! I dont think zeroing the sectors is the same as formatting though
dbminter Posted September 20, 2005 Author Posted September 20, 2005 Yeah, I need an actual formatter. Not a disk blanker. I've already got things that can do that.
jm1647 Posted September 20, 2005 Posted September 20, 2005 Yeah, I need an actual formatter. Not a disk blanker. I've already got things that can do that. How about this one here It's called Format 144 1.11
dbminter Posted September 20, 2005 Author Posted September 20, 2005 I need something that is not purely command line driven. Must be GUI, but, if it supports command switches, too, that's okay.
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