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I need to low-level format floppies with an external usb floppy drive in ubuntu 10.04 (or later) server.

I have tried the tools that come with util-linux-ng, and contain (specifically) fdformat.

Unfortunately these tools are written to use /dev/fd* devices, and not /dev/sd* that is used with the usb floppy drives I have on hand.

Alternatives to using the tools would be appreciated (note, the computers I have at my disposal do not have floppy connectors on the main board, so please don't recommend using a "real" floppy drive).

for example, I know dd works to zero the drive, but I suspect I need a copy of a working, blank formatted floppy as the if= parameter. I have my doubts this would be a robust, ongoing solution for actually writing out the tracks on the floppy.

the answers are not at: How can I get a USB floppy drive to work? How to format a USB or external drive? ...and lots of others

Community
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derekshaw
  • 43

3 Answers3

5

The fdutils web site refers to http://www.geocities.jp/tedi_world/format_usbfdd_e.html for usb floppy drives.

psusi
  • 38,031
1

Try mtools. apt-get install mtools

Edit the /etc/mtools.conf file to have one of the drive letters point at your usb floppy drive. For me the usb floppy was /dev/sdg (Use dmesg to determine this.)

# # Linux floppy drives
#drive a: file="/dev/fd0" exclusive
drive a: file="/dev/sdg" exclusive

Then mformat a:

mformat a:

Steve Queen
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-5

Have you tried gparted as the root (sudo) user? I use this tool daily for all kinds of drives yet I a floppy - I have not.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install gparted
sudo gparted

Look to the top right to find your drive. If Linux can mount it - Gparted should be able to format it!

Tim
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TJ_IN_AK
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