How to Select Floppy Drive Format Capacity

[Tagman]

Hi -

When I try to format a 3-1/2" Floppy Drive on my system (XP home SP1) - The only choice I am offered is 3.5" 1.44bm 512/sector.

The drive will read and write 720K diskettes, but won't permit me to format them.

Is this limitation based upon my bios, XP configuration or the floppy drive myself?

Thanks for any input -

[E.P. van Westendorp]

You Cannot Format 720 KB Floppy Disks in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302113

Floppy Disk Formats That Are Supported in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309623

Some say it's possible to format a 720KB floppy in the command window
using the right parameters.

--

Eric P. van Westendorp Tel: +31(0252)210579
Reigerslaan 22 2215NN Voorhout Netherlands

Tagman wrote:
> Hi -
>
> When I try to format a 3-1/2" Floppy Drive on my system (XP home SP1) - The only choice I am offered is 3.5" 1.44bm 512/sector.
>
> The drive will read and write 720K diskettes, but won't permit me to format them.
>
> Is this limitation based upon my bios, XP configuration or the floppy drive myself?
>
> Thanks for any input -

[Tagman]

Such an easy answer - Thanks!


"E.P. van Westendorp" > wrote in message ...
You Cannot Format 720 KB Floppy Disks in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302113

Floppy Disk Formats That Are Supported in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309623

Some say it's possible to format a 720KB floppy in the command window
using the right parameters.

--

Eric P. van Westendorp Tel: +31(0252)210579
Reigerslaan 22 2215NN Voorhout Netherlands

Tagman wrote:
> Hi -
>
> When I try to format a 3-1/2" Floppy Drive on my system (XP home SP1) - The only choice I am offered is 3.5" 1.44bm 512/sector.
>
> The drive will read and write 720K diskettes, but won't permit me to format them.
>
> Is this limitation based upon my bios, XP configuration or the floppy drive myself?
>
> Thanks for any input -

[Irina Alexander]

You can try Alkonost MaxFormat for floppy formatting:
http://www.alkonost.com/

But as I know, MaxFormat does not work with external USB floppy drives.

--

> You Cannot Format 720 KB Floppy Disks in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302113
>
> Floppy Disk Formats That Are Supported in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309623
>
> Some say it's possible to format a 720KB floppy in the command window
> using the right parameters.
>

[Kenneth Miller]

I made a bat file named 720.bat which contained the following

FORMAT A: /T:80 /N:9
exit

Works just fine

Ken Miller


"E.P. van Westendorp" > wrote in message
...
> You Cannot Format 720 KB Floppy Disks in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302113
>
> Floppy Disk Formats That Are Supported in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309623
>
> Some say it's possible to format a 720KB floppy in the command window
> using the right parameters.
>
> --
>
> Eric P. van Westendorp Tel: +31(0252)210579
> Reigerslaan 22 2215NN Voorhout Netherlands
>
> Tagman wrote:
> > Hi -
> >
> > When I try to format a 3-1/2" Floppy Drive on my system (XP home
SP1) - The only choice I am offered is 3.5" 1.44bm 512/sector.
> >
> > The drive will read and write 720K diskettes, but won't permit me to
format them.
> >
> > Is this limitation based upon my bios, XP configuration or the
floppy drive myself?
> >
> > Thanks for any input -
>