Formatting Method Differences

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Third option: Unconditional format, this type of format won't leave any unformat information on the drive.
Without this option it is possible to unformat your drive and get back all the information before the format took place.

ASKER

If I use the first option, I will need a boot disk? This option only leaves unformat information; no actual files?

If I use the second option, I won't need a boot disk as the files on the disk will be copied to the computer anyway?

If I use the third option, I will need a boot disk?

Finally, if I use the first option over the third one, any unformat information will be destroyed once the OS has been installed?

All format varieties cleans out the drive one way or another. First alternative saves unformat info, like the FAT. Unformat is a program, that can use the unformat info if the need should arise to go back... Second alternative is a combination of format and sys commands. The drive is formatted and then the system files from the floppy are copied to the HD. It's not like keeping the old system - you'll get what is on the boot floppy. Format /U is for unconditional formatting. Nothing left to save except by using recovery expert assistance.
You'll need a boot disk whichever alternative you choose. It's not good practice to start a format from the drive you are formatting. Risky, at the least.
Regards
/RID

ASKER

Thanks, rid. That helps a lot. What did you mean by "It's not good practice to start a format from the drive you are formatting" ? I want to format my C: drive, one of four partitions.

I meant that you always need to have a boot disk; if the formatting fails at some point (power failure or any other reason) you will be left with a non-bootable hard drive. To start again you need the boot disk. I think it's better to make the boot disk from Windows and start with this disk to run the formatting program. I seem to remember hearing that it is not even possible to run format c: if you have booted from C:, but I haven't tried this so I'm not sure. It's more a safety precaution really as far as I'm concerned.
Regards
/RID

ASKER

One last thing: if you have to use a boot disk anyway, what is the advantage in copying system files from the FDD to the HDD?

no advantage in fact, as what mention earlier, the installation will copy the system files during installation. THe system files comes handy in the older days when installing dos and win3.11 where bootdisk is not available

Perhaps I misunderstand something here. Format c: /s is a command that will format c: drive (partition) and, when format is completed, will transfer the system files that are on the floppy to the hard drive, thus making it bootable. I don't think it's possible to do a format c: /s from the c: prompt (that is , starting the format program from the drive you wish to format) , since there wouldn't be any files left to transfer after the formatting. Even if the program starts I'd guess it would fail at some point, leaving you with a non-bootable HD. The advantage with the /s switch is that you don't need to do the sys command manually after the formatting, but you will have to do the formatting from a floppy that has the system files on it. I keep assuming you want to format the C: drive and make it bootable with your O/S. I can see no reason NOT to create a start diskette and boot with this to format C: (with or without the /U). If you are about to reinstall DOS or Windows, there's no need to use the /s, as the installation process will make C: bootable anyway. I don't know if I'm helping or confusing here, as I don't quite see what you want to do.
Regards
/RID

the bottom line is format c: will be good enough

ASKER

Yes, I do want to format the C: drive and make it bootable with my OS.

If I use "format c:" will I need to do the sys command manually after the formatting, as you mentioned? What's this about?

as i say if you are going to istall the os (win98, winme or what ever) right after you formatted your drive you dont need that. THe installation will copy the sys file during the process. After the installation your hard disk will be bootable. But during the olderdays where you wanted to install dos, you need to copy the system file first. THe bootdisk nowadays comes handy

So format c: and you are on you installing your OS.

Regards

lhutton: for your last entry - yes.
After formatting the drive is empty. Any attempt to start the computer will result in a message like "No system disk or disk error" if no other boot device is present (e.g. a floppy in the A: drive). The sys command, which is depending on the sys.com file, transfers the system files to the proper places on the drive that is specified with the sys command (e.g. sys C:). Now the C: drive will be bootable. It doesn't hold the entire operating system, just enough to start the computer let it perform some simple tasks like creating, copying and deleting files etc. These are internal commands, which means they reside inside the system file command.com and do not need their own program files. This procedure is not equal to installing an operating system. Normally an O/S is installed from specially prepared floppies or CD:s. During the installation, which is invoked by some simple command like "setup" or "install", you are often invited to accept partitioning, formatting etc as integral steps of the installation process. The placement of the system files, as can be done manually with "sys", will take place without your intervention. This is the case with MS DOS 6 and onwards for example.
Regards
/RID