Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 00:12:47 +1030 From: Malcolm Kay <malcolm.kay@internode.on.net> To: "Daniel O'Connor" <doconnor@gsoft.com.au>, freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Subject: Re: fdformat doesn't work anymore? Message-ID: <200311280012.47529.malcolm.kay@internode.on.net> In-Reply-To: <200311271957.42283.doconnor@gsoft.com.au> References: <200311271957.42283.doconnor@gsoft.com.au>
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On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 19:57, Daniel O'Connor wrote: > I am trying to format a floppy in a FreeBSD 4.9-mumble system but it sp= its > errors on most tracks. > > I've tried several floppies, but the result is the same. If I do "dd > if=3D/dev/zero of=3D/dev/fd0c" it completes without error. > So this proves you can get nulls from /dev/zero without error. But having done this will dd read from /dev/fd0c? > ie -> > [midget 19:47] ~ >sudo fdformat /dev/fd0c > Format 1440K floppy `/dev/fd0c'? (y/n): y > Processing EEEEVEEVEVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEVVVVVVVVVVVE done. > Errors encountered: > Cyl Head Sect Error > 1 0 5 CRC error in data field > 2 0 5 CRC error in data field > 2 1 5 CRC error in data field > 3 0 5 CRC error in data field > 3 1 5 CRC error in data field > 4 0 5 CRC error in data field > 4 1 5 CRC error in data field > 5 0 5 CRC error in data field > 5 1 5 CRC error in data field > 6 0 5 CRC error in data field > (Further errors not printed.) > > vs > [midget 19:46] ~ >sudo dd if=3D/dev/zero of=3D/dev/fd0c > dd: /dev/fd0c: end of device > 2881+0 records in > 2880+0 records out > 1474560 bytes transferred in 52.879389 secs (27885 bytes/sec) > > Nothing is logged in dmesg during fdformat. > > I have a > fdc0: <NEC 72065B or clone> at port 0x3f0-0x3f5,0x3f7 irq 6 drq 2 on is= a0 > fdc0: FIFO enabled, 8 bytes threshold > fd0: <1440-KB 3.5" drive> on fdc0 drive 0 > > Running on a 1Ghz K7 KT133 system. I tried it in my laptop (Inpsiron 80= 00 > PIII700, ICH2) with similar results. > [chowder 19:50] ~ >sudo fdformat -f 1440 /dev/fd0c > Format 1440K floppy `/dev/fd0c'? (y/n): y > Processing EEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV done. > Errors encountered: > Cyl Head Sect Error > 1 0 5 CRC error in data field > 2 0 5 CRC error in data field > 2 1 5 CRC error in data field > 3 0 5 CRC error in data field > 3 1 5 CRC error in data field > 4 0 5 CRC error in data field > 4 1 5 CRC error in data field > 5 0 5 CRC error in data field > 5 1 5 CRC error in data field > 6 0 5 CRC error in data field > (Further errors not printed.) > > Admittedly the disks I've tried are a bit old, but it seems very strang= e > that format fails while dd works.. But does dd really work -- can you read from the disk without error? The fact that the errors are pretty much the same on both machines, I wou= ld=20 take as a strong indication the the diskettes are due for the rubbish tip= =2E And I've known batches of old disks to fail from physical distortion of t= he media while on the shelf through aging -- long term backup on floppies is= =20 useless or at least a big gamble. > > Floppies do suck but some times they are like Obi Wan.. my only hope > > :) Malcolm Kay
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