How to format 720k FAT (ie: MS-DOS) floppy on Linux using USB floppy drive

I have a USB 3.5" floppy drive connected to my Linux box. I've verified that it is /dev/sdh on my Linux box, and I can read Linux-formatted floppies from it. (I had an old ext2 floppy lying around.)

I need to format a double-density 720k floppy to transfer data between my Linux machine and an older machine (an Amiga with CrossDOS installed).

I have tried:

mkdosfs -F 12 -I /dev/sdh

But this says:

mkfs.fat 3.0.26 (2014-03-07)

unable to get drive geometry, using default 255/63

mkdosfs: Attempting to create a too large filesystem

How can I format a 720k MS-DOS floppy on this machine with this drive?

asked Jul 31 '15 at 18:37

Laurence Gonsalves

395310

What is the result of fdisk /dev/sdh? My answer below assumes a standard floppy drive, ie the command doesnt work for devices other than fd*
– eyoung100
Aug 1 '15 at 1:10

add a comment |

I need to format a double-density 720k floppy to transfer data between my Linux machine and an older machine (an Amiga with CrossDOS installed).

I have tried:

mkdosfs -F 12 -I /dev/sdh

But this says:

mkfs.fat 3.0.26 (2014-03-07)

unable to get drive geometry, using default 255/63

mkdosfs: Attempting to create a too large filesystem

How can I format a 720k MS-DOS floppy on this machine with this drive?

asked Jul 31 '15 at 18:37

Laurence Gonsalves

395310

What is the result of fdisk /dev/sdh? My answer below assumes a standard floppy drive, ie the command doesnt work for devices other than fd*
– eyoung100
Aug 1 '15 at 1:10

add a comment |

I need to format a double-density 720k floppy to transfer data between my Linux machine and an older machine (an Amiga with CrossDOS installed).

I have tried:

mkdosfs -F 12 -I /dev/sdh

But this says:

mkfs.fat 3.0.26 (2014-03-07)

unable to get drive geometry, using default 255/63

mkdosfs: Attempting to create a too large filesystem

How can I format a 720k MS-DOS floppy on this machine with this drive?

asked Jul 31 '15 at 18:37

Laurence Gonsalves

395310

I need to format a double-density 720k floppy to transfer data between my Linux machine and an older machine (an Amiga with CrossDOS installed).

I have tried:

mkdosfs -F 12 -I /dev/sdh

But this says:

mkfs.fat 3.0.26 (2014-03-07)

unable to get drive geometry, using default 255/63

mkdosfs: Attempting to create a too large filesystem

How can I format a 720k MS-DOS floppy on this machine with this drive?

linux usb-drive floppy

asked Jul 31 '15 at 18:37

Laurence Gonsalves

395310

asked Jul 31 '15 at 18:37

Laurence Gonsalves

395310

asked Jul 31 '15 at 18:37

Laurence Gonsalves

395310

asked Jul 31 '15 at 18:37

Laurence Gonsalves

395310

asked Jul 31 '15 at 18:37

Laurence Gonsalves

395310

What is the result of fdisk /dev/sdh? My answer below assumes a standard floppy drive, ie the command doesnt work for devices other than fd*
– eyoung100
Aug 1 '15 at 1:10

add a comment |

What is the result of fdisk /dev/sdh? My answer below assumes a standard floppy drive, ie the command doesnt work for devices other than fd*
– eyoung100
Aug 1 '15 at 1:10

What is the result of fdisk /dev/sdh? My answer below assumes a standard floppy drive, ie the command doesnt work for devices other than fd*
– eyoung100
Aug 1 '15 at 1:10

add a comment |

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

I have just successfully formatted a completely blank floppy in a USB drive. This required a proper format, and not just writing a filesystem to the disk, because there were no sectors on it yet.

This is done with the ufiformat program, which is specifically designed to work with USB floppy drives.

$ sudo ufiformat -f 1440 -v /dev/sdd

format on device=/dev/sdd, size=1440

geometry: track=80, head=2, sector=18, block=512

done

This formats a 1.44MB floppy (-f 1440) in verbose mode (-v) using the USB floppy device at /dev/sdd. Use -f 720 for a 720k disk.

Here is some other information I found on my journey:

mkfs.msdos and mformat do not actually format a disk, they simply write a DOS (FAT12) filesystem onto an already formatted disk. If the disk has not been formatted (or has Amiga or other non-DOS data on it) then these programs will fail. You will of course have to use these programs to put a filesystem onto the floppy, after you have formatted it with ufiformat.

Likewise using dd to write an image to the disk won't work until the disk has been formatted first.

fdformat is only designed to work with PC-style floppy controllers (e.g. with drives that plug in to the motherboard floppy connectors.) It is not able to work with USB floppy drives.

edited Dec 14 at 8:18

telcoM

15.7k12143

answered Nov 21 '15 at 12:36

Malvineous

1,92511734

OP asked for a 720k format, not a 1440k format.
– FUZxxl
Dec 13 at 19:37

So use -f 720 instead? I've updated my answer to include this.
– Malvineous
Dec 14 at 3:34

Well, the point is that not all USB floppy disk drives support this (mine certainly does not for some reason) and additionally, if you format a 720k floppy in a 1400k drive, the result is likely to be unreadable in a real 720k drive due to the track width being wrong.
– FUZxxl
Dec 14 at 10:28

The track width is only different on 5.25" drives, with 3.5" drives 720k and 1440k disks have the same track width and count so the disks can be interchanged with DD drives without problem. (The increased capacity comes from a different magnetic material and a stronger magnetic field when writing.) I am not sure why a drive would not support 720k when only the magnetic field strength is different, but perhaps it was removed to keep costs low. Either way if you have a USB floppy that supports writing to 720k disks, ufiformat can certainly make use of it.
– Malvineous
Dec 18 at 6:36

add a comment |

Try:

fdformat /dev/fd0u720

mkfs.msdos /dev/fd0

after creating a symlink from /dev/sdh to /dev/fd0

answered Aug 1 '15 at 1:01

eyoung100

4,7701441

1

fdformat does not work with USB floppy drives.
– FUZxxl
Mar 28 at 13:53

add a comment |

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

I have just successfully formatted a completely blank floppy in a USB drive. This required a proper format, and not just writing a filesystem to the disk, because there were no sectors on it yet.

This is done with the ufiformat program, which is specifically designed to work with USB floppy drives.

$ sudo ufiformat -f 1440 -v /dev/sdd

format on device=/dev/sdd, size=1440

geometry: track=80, head=2, sector=18, block=512

done

This formats a 1.44MB floppy (-f 1440) in verbose mode (-v) using the USB floppy device at /dev/sdd. Use -f 720 for a 720k disk.

Here is some other information I found on my journey:

mkfs.msdos and mformat do not actually format a disk, they simply write a DOS (FAT12) filesystem onto an already formatted disk. If the disk has not been formatted (or has Amiga or other non-DOS data on it) then these programs will fail. You will of course have to use these programs to put a filesystem onto the floppy, after you have formatted it with ufiformat.

Likewise using dd to write an image to the disk won't work until the disk has been formatted first.

fdformat is only designed to work with PC-style floppy controllers (e.g. with drives that plug in to the motherboard floppy connectors.) It is not able to work with USB floppy drives.

edited Dec 14 at 8:18

telcoM

15.7k12143

answered Nov 21 '15 at 12:36

Malvineous

1,92511734

OP asked for a 720k format, not a 1440k format.
– FUZxxl
Dec 13 at 19:37

So use -f 720 instead? I've updated my answer to include this.
– Malvineous
Dec 14 at 3:34

Well, the point is that not all USB floppy disk drives support this (mine certainly does not for some reason) and additionally, if you format a 720k floppy in a 1400k drive, the result is likely to be unreadable in a real 720k drive due to the track width being wrong.
– FUZxxl
Dec 14 at 10:28

The track width is only different on 5.25" drives, with 3.5" drives 720k and 1440k disks have the same track width and count so the disks can be interchanged with DD drives without problem. (The increased capacity comes from a different magnetic material and a stronger magnetic field when writing.) I am not sure why a drive would not support 720k when only the magnetic field strength is different, but perhaps it was removed to keep costs low. Either way if you have a USB floppy that supports writing to 720k disks, ufiformat can certainly make use of it.
– Malvineous
Dec 18 at 6:36

add a comment |

I have just successfully formatted a completely blank floppy in a USB drive. This required a proper format, and not just writing a filesystem to the disk, because there were no sectors on it yet.

This is done with the ufiformat program, which is specifically designed to work with USB floppy drives.

$ sudo ufiformat -f 1440 -v /dev/sdd

format on device=/dev/sdd, size=1440

geometry: track=80, head=2, sector=18, block=512

done

This formats a 1.44MB floppy (-f 1440) in verbose mode (-v) using the USB floppy device at /dev/sdd. Use -f 720 for a 720k disk.

Here is some other information I found on my journey:

mkfs.msdos and mformat do not actually format a disk, they simply write a DOS (FAT12) filesystem onto an already formatted disk. If the disk has not been formatted (or has Amiga or other non-DOS data on it) then these programs will fail. You will of course have to use these programs to put a filesystem onto the floppy, after you have formatted it with ufiformat.

Likewise using dd to write an image to the disk won't work until the disk has been formatted first.

fdformat is only designed to work with PC-style floppy controllers (e.g. with drives that plug in to the motherboard floppy connectors.) It is not able to work with USB floppy drives.

edited Dec 14 at 8:18

telcoM

15.7k12143

answered Nov 21 '15 at 12:36

Malvineous

1,92511734

OP asked for a 720k format, not a 1440k format.
– FUZxxl
Dec 13 at 19:37

So use -f 720 instead? I've updated my answer to include this.
– Malvineous
Dec 14 at 3:34

Well, the point is that not all USB floppy disk drives support this (mine certainly does not for some reason) and additionally, if you format a 720k floppy in a 1400k drive, the result is likely to be unreadable in a real 720k drive due to the track width being wrong.
– FUZxxl
Dec 14 at 10:28

The track width is only different on 5.25" drives, with 3.5" drives 720k and 1440k disks have the same track width and count so the disks can be interchanged with DD drives without problem. (The increased capacity comes from a different magnetic material and a stronger magnetic field when writing.) I am not sure why a drive would not support 720k when only the magnetic field strength is different, but perhaps it was removed to keep costs low. Either way if you have a USB floppy that supports writing to 720k disks, ufiformat can certainly make use of it.
– Malvineous
Dec 18 at 6:36

add a comment |

I have just successfully formatted a completely blank floppy in a USB drive. This required a proper format, and not just writing a filesystem to the disk, because there were no sectors on it yet.

This is done with the ufiformat program, which is specifically designed to work with USB floppy drives.

$ sudo ufiformat -f 1440 -v /dev/sdd

format on device=/dev/sdd, size=1440

geometry: track=80, head=2, sector=18, block=512

done

This formats a 1.44MB floppy (-f 1440) in verbose mode (-v) using the USB floppy device at /dev/sdd. Use -f 720 for a 720k disk.

Here is some other information I found on my journey:

mkfs.msdos and mformat do not actually format a disk, they simply write a DOS (FAT12) filesystem onto an already formatted disk. If the disk has not been formatted (or has Amiga or other non-DOS data on it) then these programs will fail. You will of course have to use these programs to put a filesystem onto the floppy, after you have formatted it with ufiformat.

Likewise using dd to write an image to the disk won't work until the disk has been formatted first.

fdformat is only designed to work with PC-style floppy controllers (e.g. with drives that plug in to the motherboard floppy connectors.) It is not able to work with USB floppy drives.

edited Dec 14 at 8:18

telcoM

15.7k12143

answered Nov 21 '15 at 12:36

Malvineous

1,92511734

I have just successfully formatted a completely blank floppy in a USB drive. This required a proper format, and not just writing a filesystem to the disk, because there were no sectors on it yet.

This is done with the ufiformat program, which is specifically designed to work with USB floppy drives.

$ sudo ufiformat -f 1440 -v /dev/sdd

format on device=/dev/sdd, size=1440

geometry: track=80, head=2, sector=18, block=512

done

This formats a 1.44MB floppy (-f 1440) in verbose mode (-v) using the USB floppy device at /dev/sdd. Use -f 720 for a 720k disk.

Here is some other information I found on my journey:

mkfs.msdos and mformat do not actually format a disk, they simply write a DOS (FAT12) filesystem onto an already formatted disk. If the disk has not been formatted (or has Amiga or other non-DOS data on it) then these programs will fail. You will of course have to use these programs to put a filesystem onto the floppy, after you have formatted it with ufiformat.

Likewise using dd to write an image to the disk won't work until the disk has been formatted first.

fdformat is only designed to work with PC-style floppy controllers (e.g. with drives that plug in to the motherboard floppy connectors.) It is not able to work with USB floppy drives.

edited Dec 14 at 8:18

telcoM

15.7k12143

answered Nov 21 '15 at 12:36

Malvineous

1,92511734

edited Dec 14 at 8:18

telcoM

15.7k12143

edited Dec 14 at 8:18

telcoM

15.7k12143

edited Dec 14 at 8:18

telcoM

15.7k12143

answered Nov 21 '15 at 12:36

Malvineous

1,92511734

answered Nov 21 '15 at 12:36

Malvineous

1,92511734

answered Nov 21 '15 at 12:36

Malvineous

1,92511734

OP asked for a 720k format, not a 1440k format.
– FUZxxl
Dec 13 at 19:37

So use -f 720 instead? I've updated my answer to include this.
– Malvineous
Dec 14 at 3:34

Well, the point is that not all USB floppy disk drives support this (mine certainly does not for some reason) and additionally, if you format a 720k floppy in a 1400k drive, the result is likely to be unreadable in a real 720k drive due to the track width being wrong.
– FUZxxl
Dec 14 at 10:28

The track width is only different on 5.25" drives, with 3.5" drives 720k and 1440k disks have the same track width and count so the disks can be interchanged with DD drives without problem. (The increased capacity comes from a different magnetic material and a stronger magnetic field when writing.) I am not sure why a drive would not support 720k when only the magnetic field strength is different, but perhaps it was removed to keep costs low. Either way if you have a USB floppy that supports writing to 720k disks, ufiformat can certainly make use of it.
– Malvineous
Dec 18 at 6:36

add a comment |

OP asked for a 720k format, not a 1440k format.
– FUZxxl
Dec 13 at 19:37

So use -f 720 instead? I've updated my answer to include this.
– Malvineous
Dec 14 at 3:34

Well, the point is that not all USB floppy disk drives support this (mine certainly does not for some reason) and additionally, if you format a 720k floppy in a 1400k drive, the result is likely to be unreadable in a real 720k drive due to the track width being wrong.
– FUZxxl
Dec 14 at 10:28

The track width is only different on 5.25" drives, with 3.5" drives 720k and 1440k disks have the same track width and count so the disks can be interchanged with DD drives without problem. (The increased capacity comes from a different magnetic material and a stronger magnetic field when writing.) I am not sure why a drive would not support 720k when only the magnetic field strength is different, but perhaps it was removed to keep costs low. Either way if you have a USB floppy that supports writing to 720k disks, ufiformat can certainly make use of it.
– Malvineous
Dec 18 at 6:36

OP asked for a 720k format, not a 1440k format.
– FUZxxl
Dec 13 at 19:37

So use -f 720 instead? I've updated my answer to include this.
– Malvineous
Dec 14 at 3:34

Well, the point is that not all USB floppy disk drives support this (mine certainly does not for some reason) and additionally, if you format a 720k floppy in a 1400k drive, the result is likely to be unreadable in a real 720k drive due to the track width being wrong.
– FUZxxl
Dec 14 at 10:28

The track width is only different on 5.25" drives, with 3.5" drives 720k and 1440k disks have the same track width and count so the disks can be interchanged with DD drives without problem. (The increased capacity comes from a different magnetic material and a stronger magnetic field when writing.) I am not sure why a drive would not support 720k when only the magnetic field strength is different, but perhaps it was removed to keep costs low. Either way if you have a USB floppy that supports writing to 720k disks, ufiformat can certainly make use of it.
– Malvineous
Dec 18 at 6:36

add a comment |

Try:

fdformat /dev/fd0u720

mkfs.msdos /dev/fd0

after creating a symlink from /dev/sdh to /dev/fd0

answered Aug 1 '15 at 1:01

eyoung100

4,7701441

1

fdformat does not work with USB floppy drives.
– FUZxxl
Mar 28 at 13:53

add a comment |

Try:

fdformat /dev/fd0u720

mkfs.msdos /dev/fd0

after creating a symlink from /dev/sdh to /dev/fd0

answered Aug 1 '15 at 1:01

eyoung100

4,7701441

1

fdformat does not work with USB floppy drives.
– FUZxxl
Mar 28 at 13:53

add a comment |

Try:

fdformat /dev/fd0u720

mkfs.msdos /dev/fd0

after creating a symlink from /dev/sdh to /dev/fd0

answered Aug 1 '15 at 1:01

eyoung100

4,7701441

Try:

fdformat /dev/fd0u720

mkfs.msdos /dev/fd0

after creating a symlink from /dev/sdh to /dev/fd0

answered Aug 1 '15 at 1:01

eyoung100

4,7701441

answered Aug 1 '15 at 1:01

eyoung100

4,7701441

answered Aug 1 '15 at 1:01

eyoung100

4,7701441

answered Aug 1 '15 at 1:01

eyoung100

4,7701441

1

fdformat does not work with USB floppy drives.
– FUZxxl
Mar 28 at 13:53

add a comment |

1

fdformat does not work with USB floppy drives.
– FUZxxl
Mar 28 at 13:53

fdformat does not work with USB floppy drives.
– FUZxxl
Mar 28 at 13:53

add a comment |

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