From owner-freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Apr 9 15:30:11 2003 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-doc@hub.freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6BBCF37B401 for ; Wed, 9 Apr 2003 15:30:11 -0700 (PDT) Received: from freefall.freebsd.org (freefall.freebsd.org [216.136.204.21]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B81C543F93 for ; Wed, 9 Apr 2003 15:30:09 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from gnats@FreeBSD.org) Received: from freefall.freebsd.org (gnats@localhost [127.0.0.1]) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h39MU9Up097108 for ; Wed, 9 Apr 2003 15:30:09 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from gnats@freefall.freebsd.org) Received: (from gnats@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.12.9/8.12.9/Submit) id h39MU9Jt097107; Wed, 9 Apr 2003 15:30:09 -0700 (PDT) Resent-Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 15:30:09 -0700 (PDT) Resent-Message-Id: <200304092230.h39MU9Jt097107@freefall.freebsd.org> Resent-From: FreeBSD-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org (GNATS Filer) Resent-To: freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.org Resent-Reply-To: FreeBSD-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org, Martin Karlsson Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5CCB637B401 for ; Wed, 9 Apr 2003 15:28:59 -0700 (PDT) Received: from mf1.bredband.net (mf1.bredband.net [195.54.106.36]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9C4E543F75 for ; Wed, 9 Apr 2003 15:28:55 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from martink@shell.linux.se) Received: from localhost.036-23-6f72652.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se ([213.112.193.73]) by mf1.bredband.net with ESMTP <20030409222854.LKSK269.mf1@localhost.036-23-6f72652.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se> for ; Thu, 10 Apr 2003 00:28:54 +0200 Received: from c-49c170d5.036-23-6f72652.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se (localhost [127.0.0.1])with ESMTP id h39MSsJU037257 for ; Thu, 10 Apr 2003 00:28:54 +0200 (CEST) martink@c-49c170d5.036-23-6f72652.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se) Received: (from martink@localhost) (8.12.9/8.12.9/Submit) id h39MSmsj037256; Thu, 10 Apr 2003 00:28:48 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from martink) Message-Id: <200304092228.h39MSmsj037256@c-49c170d5.036-23-6f72652.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 00:28:48 +0200 (CEST) From: Martin Karlsson To: FreeBSD-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org X-Send-Pr-Version: 3.113 Subject: docs/50761: [PATCH] Update of the handbook (12.6, floppy disks) X-BeenThere: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list Reply-To: Martin Karlsson List-Id: Documentation project List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2003 22:30:11 -0000 >Number: 50761 >Category: docs >Synopsis: [PATCH] Update of the handbook (12.6, floppy disks) >Confidential: no >Severity: non-critical >Priority: low >Responsible: freebsd-doc >State: open >Quarter: >Keywords: >Date-Required: >Class: change-request >Submitter-Id: current-users >Arrival-Date: Wed Apr 09 15:30:09 PDT 2003 >Closed-Date: >Last-Modified: >Originator: Martin Karlsson >Release: FreeBSD 5.0-CURRENT i386 >Organization: >Environment: System: FreeBSD c-49c170d5 5.0-CURRENT FreeBSD 5.0-CURRENT #0: Wed Apr 9 07:10:02 CEST 2003 root@c-49c170d5:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/K20030406 i386 >Description: Section 12.6 of the handbook, "Creating and Using Floppy Disks", doesn't quite apply to 5.0 or newer. It also uses a rather informal style, and contains some grammatical errors. This patch aims to fix this. The modified chapter can be viewed at URL:http://www.krutov.org/martink/floppy/floppies.html >How-To-Repeat: Read section 12.6 of the handbook. >Fix: --- floppy.diff begins here --- Index: chapter.sgml =================================================================== RCS file: /home/ncvs/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/disks/chapter.sgml,v retrieving revision 1.145 diff -u -r1.145 chapter.sgml --- chapter.sgml 2003/03/26 02:11:55 1.145 +++ chapter.sgml 2003/04/09 21:47:06 @@ -1096,148 +1096,187 @@ Julio Merino - Contributed by + Original work by + + + Martin + Karlsson + Rewritten by + + + Creating and Using Floppy Disks - Floppy disks are, nowadays, an old-fashioned medium to - store/share data. Although, there are still some times when you - need to use them, because you do not have any other removable - storage media or you need to use what you have saved in them on - any other computer. + Storing data on floppy disks is sometimes useful, for example + when one does not have any other removable storage media or when one needs + to transfer small amounts of data to another computer. This section will explain how to use floppy disks in - FreeBSD, that is, formating and copying/restoring data from - them. But... I really have written this to help you about how to - create forced-size floppies. + FreeBSD, and will cover formating, copying, and restoring data from + floppies. - The device + Formatting floppies + + + The device - Floppy disks are accessed through entries in - /dev (like any other device). To access the - raw floppy disk you can use /dev/fdX, - where X stands for the drive number, usually 0. When the disk is - formatted you can use /dev/fdX, or - whichever of the other devices named - /dev/fdXY, where Y stands for a - letter. These are all the same. - - Other important devices are - /dev/fdX.size, where size is a floppy disk - size in kilobytes. These entries are used at low-level format - time to determine the disk size. - - Sometimes you will have to (re)create these entries under - /dev. To do it, you can issue: - - &prompt.root; cd /dev && ./MAKEDEV "fd*" - In FreeBSD 5.0, &man.devfs.5; will automatically - manage device nodes in /dev, so use of - MAKEDEV is not necessary. + Floppy disks are accessed through entries in + /dev, just like other devices. To access the + raw floppy disk one uses /dev/fdN, + where N stands for the drive number, + usually 0, or in 4.8 or older + /dev/fdNX, + where X stands for a letter. + + In 5.0 or newer, simply use + /dev/fdN. + + + The disk size in 4.8 or older versions + + There are also /dev/fdN.size + devices, where size is a floppy disk + size in kilobytes. These entries are used at low-level format + time to determine the disk size. + + Sometimes the entries under /dev will + have to be (re)created. To do that, issue: + + &prompt.root; cd /dev && ./MAKEDEV "fd*" + + + + The disk size in 5.0 or newer versions + + In 5.0, &man.devfs.5; will automatically + manage device nodes in /dev, so use of + MAKEDEV is not necessary. + + The desired disk size is passed to &man.fdformat.1; through + the -f flag. Supported sizes are listed in + &man.fdcontrol.8; + + + + + Formatting + + A floppy disk needs to be low-level formated before it can + be used. This is usually done by the vendor, but formatting is a good way + to check media integrity. It can also be used to force a larger + disk size. + + To low-level format the floppy disk you need to + use &man.fdformat.1;. This utility expects + the device name as an argument. + + Forced disks will take longer to format due to + the larger disk size. Other disk + sizes found in /dev can be used, + but the most stable and compatible forced + size is 1720kB for 3.5inch disks. + + Make note of any disk error , as this can help determining if + the disk is good or bad. + + + Formatting in 4.8 or older versions + + Use the + /dev/fdN.size devices + to either format the floppy to its real size, or to force a larger + disk size. Insert a new 3.5inch floppy disk in your drive and issue: + + &prompt.root; /usr/sbin/fdformat /dev/fd0.1440 + + To force the floppy disk size, use other entries + in /dev. With the same floppy, issue: + + &prompt.root; /usr/sbin/fdformat /dev/fd0.1720 + + + + Formatting in 5.0 or newer versions + + Use the /dev/fdN + devices to either format the floppy to its real size, or to force a larger + disk size. Check &man.fdcontrol.8; for the size you want the disk to + have. Insert a new 3.5inch floppy disk in your drive and issue: + + &prompt.root; /usr/sbin/fdformat -f 1440 /dev/fd0 + + To force the floppy disk size, use other entries + in /dev. With the same floppy, issue: + + &prompt.root; /usr/sbin/fdformat -f 1720 /dev/fd0 + + - - Formatting - A floppy disk needs to be low-level formated before it can - be used. This is usually done by the vendor but you may want to - do it to check media integrity or to force the disk capacity to - be bigger. - - To format the floppy at a low-level fashion you need to - use &man.fdformat.1;. This utility expects - the device name as an argument. We will use those - /dev/fdX.size devices, which will allow us - to format the floppy to its real size, or force them. So you - insert a new 3.5inch floppy disk in your drive and issue: - - &prompt.root; /usr/sbin/fdformat /dev/fd0.1440 - - This will take a while... You should notice any disk error - here (this can help you determining which disks are good or - bad). - - To force the floppy disk size, we will use other entries - in /dev. Get the same floppy and issue: - - &prompt.root; /usr/sbin/fdformat /dev/fd0.1720 - - It will take some more time than before (forced disks are - slower). When it finishes, you will have a 1720kB floppy disk, - but for the moment you will not notice any difference. You may - use other disk sizes that you can find in /dev, but the most - stable/compatible is the 1720kB for 3.5inch disks. - The disklabel After low-level formatting the disk, you will need to - place a disklabel on it. This disklabel will be destroyed - later, but it is needed by the system to determine the size of - the disk and its geometry later. + place a disklabel on it. This disklabel will be destroyed + later, but it is needed by the system to determine the size of + the disk and its geometry later. The new disklabel will take over the whole disk, and will - contain all the proper information about the geometry of the - normal or forced floppy. Take a look to - /etc/disktab now; you will see geometry - values of all kinds of floppy disks. + contain all the proper information about the geometry of the + normal or forced floppy. The geometry values for the disklabel + are listed in /etc/disktab now. - You can run now &man.disklabel.8; - like: + You can run now &man.disklabel.8; like so: &prompt.root; /sbin/disklabel -B -r -w /dev/fd0 fdsize - - Replace fdsize with fd1440, fd1720 or whichever size you - want. The last field instructs disklabel which entry to take - from /etc/disktab to use. + + Replace fdsize with + fd1440, fd1720 or whichever size you + want. The last field instructs disklabel which entry + from /etc/disktab to use. The file system + + Now the floppy is ready to be high-level formated. This + will place a new file system on it, which will let FreeBSD read + and write to the disk. After creating the new file system, the + disklabel is destroyed, so if you want to reformat the disk, you + will have to recreate the disklabel. - Now your floppy is ready to be high-level formated. This - will place a new file system on it, which will let FreeBSD read - and write to the disk. After creating the new file system, the - disklabel is destroyed, so if you want to reformat the disk, you - will have to recreate the disklabel another time. - - You can choose now which file system to use on your floppy. - You can use UFS or FAT, though UFS is not a good idea for - floppies. Choose FAT which is nice for floppies. + The floppy's file system can be either UFS or FAT. + FAT is generally a better choice for floppies. - To put a new file system on the floppy do this: + To put a new file system on the floppy, issue: &prompt.root; /sbin/newfs_msdos /dev/fd0 - As we created a disklabel before, &man.newfs.8; - will be able to fetch disk data and construct the new - file system. And now, your disk is ready for use. + The disk is now ready for use. + Using the floppy - - You have two choices to use the floppy. You can either - mount the disk with &man.mount.msdos.8;, or you can - use mtools. - Mtools are great, but you will need - to install them from the ports system. - Try it; issue a mdir. If you forced the - disk, you will notice its extra size! + To use the floppy, mount it with &man.mount.msdos.8; (in 4.8 or older) or + &man.mount.msdosfs.8; (in 5.0 or newer). + One can also use mtools from the ports collection. A last note about forced disks: they are compatible with practically all other operating systems without any external - utility to read/write them. Microsoft systems will recognize - them without problems. But note that there may be times when the - floppy drive itself is not able to read them (this may happen - with very old drives). + utility to read from them or write to them. Microsoft™ systems + will recognize them without problems. Note however that there may be + times when the floppy drive itself is not able to read them, for example + when using very old drives. --- floppy.diff ends here --- >Release-Note: >Audit-Trail: >Unformatted: