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Workbench Disk: System Drawer
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Application screenshot available [.gif format]
Filesystem Information & Standards
Formatting a disk prepares it for storing information.
Caution:
Formatting erases all information on a disk. Be careful not to format disks that hold information that you do not want to lose, particularly your original system and software applications disks.
Select the icon of the disk to be formatted and choose Format Disk from the Icons menu.
The Format window displays the current information about the disk. A text gadget allows you to enter a new Volume name for the disk.
Four items can be selected (checked) that allow you to put a Trashcan on the disk, to use Fast File System (FFS) when writing to the disk, to use International Mode, and to use Directory Caching.
Fast File System, International Mode, and Directory Caching can only be specified for AmigaDOS disks.
Disks created with the Directory Caching option enabled can only be read by Amigas running Workbench Release 3.0.
Selecting Fast File System allows the Amiga to fit more information on a disk and is faster than the standard file system.
However, Fast File System disks are incompatible with Amiga Workbench software releases prior to 2.0 and should not be selected for disks that are also used on pre-Release 2 Amigas.
Selecting International Mode corrects a case-sensitivity problem associated with international characters.
We recommend that you set this option on. However, International Mode is incompatible with Amiga Workbench software releases prior to 2.0 and should not be selected for disks that are also used on pre-Release 2 Amigas.
Selecting Directory Caching speeds up the opening of drawers, file requesters, and listings. This option is not set by default.
Disks using Directory Caching are incompatible with Amiga Workbench software releases prior to 3.0 and should not be selected for disks that are also used on pre-Release 3 Amigas.
Quick Format is for reformatting a disk that was previously formatted. You cannot format a new blank disk with Quick Format.
Choosing the Quick Format option is faster than formatting the entire disk; however, it does not detect any read/write errors on the disk that could be eliminated by a full format.
When the disk is formatted, if you did not change the name on the Format screen, it is labeled Empty. This name can be changed using the Rename item in the Icons menu.
Formatting Hard Disks:
You must format your hard disk under the following conditions:

if you install a new unformatted disk
if you have a serious unrecoverable disk error
if the disk is fragmented
if you have re partitioned the disk
if you purchase an operating system upgrade
Before reformatting your hard disk, be sure to back up all important information from the disk.
The Ram Disk cannot be formatted. If you accidentally select the Ram Disk for formatting, a requester reports that there is a format failure and requires you to select Cancel.
If you have more than one disk icon selected, more than one Format window opens when the Format Disk item is selected from the Icons menu. The Format windows open one on top of another so that only one Format window is initially visible. Drag the windows until all are visible. Be sure to check the Current Information field in the Format window for the intended Device and Volume names before allowing the format to continue.
Caution:
Check the device and volume names carefully. If you accidentally reformat your hard disk instead of a floppy, you will erase all of your software files.
Formatting Floppy Disks:
The Amiga does not recognize floppy disks that are not formatted; therefore, blank disks must be formatted before anything can be written on them.
Disks can be formatted at any time, including while running one or more applications. Disks usually have to be formatted only once.
To determine if a floppy disk is formatted, insert it into a floppy drive and check the disk icon on the Workbench screen.
If the Amiga cannot recognize the disk, four question marks (????) follow the drive designation in the icon's label.
To format a blank disk:

Write-enable the disk and insert it into a floppy drive.

Select its disk icon when it appears on the Workbench screen.

Holding down the menu button, point to the Icons menu, move the pointer to the Format Disk item, and release the button.

If you have a hard drive on your Amiga, skip to Step 7. If you do not have a hard drive on your Amiga, at the requester insert the Workbench disk into any drive.

When the Format program has been loaded from the Workbench disk, remove the disk from the drive.

At the requester, insert the blank disk and select the Continue gadget.

In the Format window, change the volume name of the disk from the default "Empty"; choose whether to put the Trashcan on the disk or to select FastFileSystem or set International Mode. Then select Format to continue.

A requester warning that all data will be lost if you continue the format appears on the screen. Select either Format or Cancel. If you are formatting a hard drive partition larger than 5 megabytes, a response to a second requester is required.

During the format a window is displayed that shows the percentage of disk that has been formatted. This window also has a Stop gadget that allows you to cancel the format at any time.

A disk that is partially formatted is not usable.


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