PING: Susan re: SuperFormat & XP

[DC]

I read your ammended desc for SuperFormat on PW (quoted below)

<q>
SuperFormat (freeware) OS: Windows - except XP (see note) (English)

SuperFormat lets you create additional disk space on a standard 3.5
inch floppy disk. The program formats the floppy to hold 1.72 MB of
data instead of the standard 1.44 MB. It comes with an adequate help
file and is easy to use. NOTE: Superformat runs in a DOS box. Users
report that Superfornat disks cannot be created OR opened in Windows
XP
</q>

We did sort out that there was a problem with XP[1] in creating these
disks but I don't recall having any difficulty reading them afterwards.

Maybe someone can confirm? I don't have access to WinXP at the mo'.

Thanks.

[1] Did this not also extend to Win2K?

 

[Susan Bugher]

I read your ammended desc for SuperFormat on PW (quoted below)

<q>
SuperFormat (freeware) OS: Windows - except XP (see note) (English)

SuperFormat lets you create additional disk space on a standard 3.5
inch floppy disk. The program formats the floppy to hold 1.72 MB of
data instead of the standard 1.44 MB. It comes with an adequate help
file and is easy to use. NOTE: Superformat runs in a DOS box. Users
report that Superfornat disks cannot be created OR opened in Windows
XP
</q>

We did sort out that there was a problem with XP[1] in creating these
disks but I don't recall having any difficulty reading them afterwards.

Maybe someone can confirm? I don't have access to WinXP at the mo'.

Thanks.

[1] Did this not also extend to Win2K?

Hi DC,

I see that I spelled SuperFormat wrong . . .

I reread the thread (AVG #506 Updating Bootable Recovery Disk). I may
have remembered a comment about Maxiflop disks (unable to write or read
in XP) and thought it applied to Superformat too.

I've done some googling - without much luck.

It does look as if problems occur in both XP and 2000. I can't tell for
certain from the comments if it is just an inability to write or an
inability to write *and* read.

Does anyone know - or could someone run some tests and report back
please?

Susan

 

[YoKenny]

I read your ammended desc for SuperFormat on PW (quoted below)

<q>
SuperFormat (freeware) OS: Windows - except XP (see note) (English)

SuperFormat lets you create additional disk space on a standard 3.5
inch floppy disk. The program formats the floppy to hold 1.72 MB of
data instead of the standard 1.44 MB. It comes with an adequate help
file and is easy to use. NOTE: Superformat runs in a DOS box. Users
report that Superfornat disks cannot be created OR opened in Windows
XP
</q>

We did sort out that there was a problem with XP[1] in creating these
disks but I don't recall having any difficulty reading them
afterwards.

Maybe someone can confirm? I don't have access to WinXP at the mo'.

Thanks.

[1] Did this not also extend to Win2K?

Hi DC,

I see that I spelled SuperFormat wrong . . .

I reread the thread (AVG #506 Updating Bootable Recovery Disk). I may
have remembered a comment about Maxiflop disks (unable to write or
read in XP) and thought it applied to Superformat too.

I've done some googling - without much luck.

It does look as if problems occur in both XP and 2000. I can't tell
for certain from the comments if it is just an inability to write or
an inability to write *and* read.

Does anyone know - or could someone run some tests and report back
please?

Susan

Using XP Home. Writing seems OK. Complains that it has bad sectors on
track 80 and 81. Only gets 1.6 something MB.

Copying files to three diskettes. One worked and 2 did not. Reading
the diskettes with Explorer gives wierd results. Lots of funny named
folders. I think I'll pass on this (f)utility.

 

[Susan Bugher]

I read your ammended desc for SuperFormat on PW (quoted below)

<q>
SuperFormat (freeware) OS: Windows - except XP (see note) (English)

SuperFormat lets you create additional disk space on a standard 3.5
inch floppy disk. The program formats the floppy to hold 1.72 MB of
data instead of the standard 1.44 MB. It comes with an adequate help
file and is easy to use. NOTE: Superformat runs in a DOS box. Users
report that Superfornat disks cannot be created OR opened in Windows
XP
</q>

We did sort out that there was a problem with XP[1] in creating these
disks but I don't recall having any difficulty reading them
afterwards.

Maybe someone can confirm? I don't have access to WinXP at the mo'.

Thanks.

[1] Did this not also extend to Win2K?

Hi DC,

I see that I spelled SuperFormat wrong . . .

I reread the thread (AVG #506 Updating Bootable Recovery Disk). I may
have remembered a comment about Maxiflop disks (unable to write or
read in XP) and thought it applied to Superformat too.

I've done some googling - without much luck.

It does look as if problems occur in both XP and 2000. I can't tell
for certain from the comments if it is just an inability to write or
an inability to write *and* read.

Does anyone know - or could someone run some tests and report back
please?

Susan

Using XP Home. Writing seems OK. Complains that it has bad sectors on
track 80 and 81. Only gets 1.6 something MB.

Copying files to three diskettes. One worked and 2 did not. Reading
the diskettes with Explorer gives wierd results. Lots of funny named
folders. I think I'll pass on this (f)utility.

Thank you YoKenny. (f)utility is great.

It would be helpful to know if a SuperFormat disk made on 9x/ME can be
read in XP or 2000. Anyone?

Susan

 

[Susan Bugher]

[snip]

It would be helpful to know if a SuperFormat disk made on 9x/ME can be
read in XP or 2000. Anyone?

I'll report back, later tonight, Susan. I will test in 98se and XP,
back and forth, and let you know my findings.

Did you get sidetracked or did my server lose your post?

Susan

 

[DC]

[snip]

It would be helpful to know if a SuperFormat disk made on 9x/ME can be
read in XP or 2000. Anyone?

I'll report back, later tonight, Susan. I will test in 98se and XP,
back and forth, and let you know my findings.

Did you get sidetracked or did my server lose your post?

Cripes! Sorry, I *did* get sidetracked and let it completely slip my
mind. On my way there, now...

 

[DC]

[snip]

It would be helpful to know if a SuperFormat disk made on 9x/ME can
be read in XP or 2000. Anyone?

I'll report back, later tonight, Susan. I will test in 98se and XP,
back and forth, and let you know my findings.

Hokay.

I rebooted and used a Win98 startup disk to enter DOS. I ran Superformat
from a floppy and formatted one diskette.

Restarted, WinXP reads them without complaint. Wrote 1.62 MB of data from
within XP to said floppy disk, no problem. Read all files, again no
problem.

http://m0053m4n.tripod.com/misc/screenshot_superformat.jpg

So, my conclusion is that the issue is *only* with the creation of the
diskettes from within XP (and probably 2000) due to the absence of a pure
DOS environment.

I used a Win98 startup floppy this time. Those with only WinXP can get a
Win98se Startup Disk creator at www.bootdisk.com.

One could just as easily use a pre-Win2k installation to do it with (as
witnessed last time, when I employed Win98se -- yeah, I have a triple boot
setup, for those keeping score };O).

As far as using the diskettes in XP after performing the low-level format
in pure DOS mode, no problems to speak of for dis here moose.

HTH, Susan.

PS: I'm gonna try my sooperdooperdisk in Linux, now. Just curious,
really. Does anyone have a pointer to a floppy superformatter for *n?x,
per chance?

 

[DC]

PS: I'm gonna try my sooperdooperdisk in Linux, now. Just curious,
really. Does anyone have a pointer to a floppy superformatter for *n?x,
per chance?

Whoa!

I mounted my blank, super-formatted disk and it shows 23 items totalling
22.5GB!

Fascinating. Is there *anything* than linux cannot do? }:O)

 

[Susan Bugher]

[snip]

It would be helpful to know if a SuperFormat disk made on 9x/ME can
be read in XP or 2000. Anyone?

I'll report back, later tonight, Susan. I will test in 98se and XP,
back and forth, and let you know my findings.

Hokay.

I rebooted and used a Win98 startup disk to enter DOS. I ran Superformat
from a floppy and formatted one diskette.

Restarted, WinXP reads them without complaint. Wrote 1.62 MB of data from
within XP to said floppy disk, no problem. Read all files, again no
problem.

http://m0053m4n.tripod.com/misc/screenshot_superformat.jpg

So, my conclusion is that the issue is *only* with the creation of the
diskettes from within XP (and probably 2000) due to the absence of a pure
DOS environment.

I used a Win98 startup floppy this time. Those with only WinXP can get a
Win98se Startup Disk creator at www.bootdisk.com.

One could just as easily use a pre-Win2k installation to do it with (as
witnessed last time, when I employed Win98se -- yeah, I have a triple boot
setup, for those keeping score };O).

As far as using the diskettes in XP after performing the low-level format
in pure DOS mode, no problems to speak of for dis here moose.

HTH, Susan.

PS: I'm gonna try my sooperdooperdisk in Linux, now. Just curious,
really. Does anyone have a pointer to a floppy superformatter for *n?x,
per chance?

Tnank you DC. I'll revise the description.

FWIW when I did a Google search for SuperFormat I think there were quite
a few Linux related links.

Susan

 

[Susan Bugher]

Tnank you DC. I'll revise the description.

Done - could you take a look and see if you approve.

Susan