Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!ucsd!hub.ucsb.edu!ucsbuxa!6500erpa
From: 6500erpa@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (Eric Palacio)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: help with formatting diskettes
Keywords: formatting
Message-ID: <10779@hub.ucsb.edu>
Date: 23 Apr 91 17:20:04 GMT
Sender: news@hub.ucsb.edu
Distribution: comp
Lines: 24

Hi, 
Here's my problem:
Every time I try to format a DD diskette in drive b: 
(1.44MB, 3 1/2") giving the "format b:" command I get the 
following message:  
Invalid media or Track 0 bad - disk unusable
Format failure .
I am still able to read/write to any diskette on that drive,
DD or HD, and format HD diskettes with no problem.
Besides, when I format DD diskettes from within WINDOWs 3.0,
it works!
I tried  adding a /4 switch when I give the dos command,
but i got the following message: "Parameters not supported
by this drive etc.."
What am I doing wrong?
My system:
80286/12MHz
DOS 3.3
20 MB hard drive.
1 floppy 5 1/4"
1 floppy 3 1/2" (HD)
I will appreciate any help.
Thank you
Eric Palacio 6500erpa@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu