Epson 386-25 Benutzerhandbuch

Appendix C

This appendix describes how to physically format a hard disk.

Sometimes called a low-level format, this procedure should not

be confused with the logical format performed by the MS-DOS

FORMAT command. The physical formatting of a hard disk is a

separate step that is usually done at the factory by the disk

manufacturer.

If your computer came with a factory-installed hard disk, or if

you have installed an optional Epson hard disk, it has already
been physically formatted. You need only follow the instructions

in the MS-DOS Installation Guide to prepare your hard disk for

use.

If you have installed a hard disk that came with its own format
utility, use that program to physically format the disk.

You may need to use the procedure in this chapter to physically

format a hard disk if either of the following is true:

Your hard disk is producing numerous read/write errors or

you are having other serious problems with it. Sometimes,

after a hard disk has been used for a long time, its data
becomes fragmented, causing the disk to perform less
efficiently or produce errors. You may want to reformat the
disk in this case.

You have installed a non-Epson hard disk in your computer

that has never received the low-level format and did not
come with its own format utility.

Physically formatting a hard disk erases any data it contains. Be

sure to back up all the data on your hard disk to diskettes before
you format it. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for

instructions on backing up data.