# format(1)

    NAME
         format - format a PC floppy diskette

    SYNOPSIS
         format [-v] device [media-size [drive-size]]

    DESCRIPTION
         Format allows a user with read-write permission to  device  to  format  a
         floppy.   Either  one  of  the  special  floppy devices must be used, see
         fd(4), or an automatic device may be used with the  size  of  the  floppy
         specified on the command line.  Two sizes must be given when formatting a
         low density diskette in a high density drive.  For example:

              format /dev/at1
              format /dev/fd1 1200
              format /dev/fd1 360 1200

         The first two commands format a 1.2M diskette, the last  formats  a  360k
         diskette  in  a 1.2M drive.  A 1.44M drive knows when it's dealing with a
         low density floppy, so all these commands format a 720k diskette:

              format /dev/fd0 720
              format /dev/fd0 720 1440
              format /dev/ps0

         No sizes may be specified when using a special floppy device, a size must
         be specified when using an automatic device.

    OPTIONS

         -v   Verify the process  by  reading  each  track  after  formatting  it.
              Formatting  is normally blind, the controller has no idea whether it
              succeeds or not.  Use -v on a new box of cheap diskettes,  or  on  a
              diskette that may have gone bad.  Verifying will increase formatting
              time by 50%.

    SEE ALSO
         mkfs(1), fd(4).

    DIAGNOSTICS
         Numbers will be printed on standard output to show that it is busy.   The
         locations  of  bad  sectors are printed on standard error when verifying.
         The exit code is zero unless there are too many bad spots.

    AUTHOR
         Kees J. Bot (kjb@cs.vu.nl)