Epson 20 Manuel D’Utilisation

Appendix D

This appendix describes how to physically format a hard disk. This

operation, sometimes called low-level or hard formatting, should not

be confused with the logical formatting process performed by the
MS-DOS FORMAT command. The physical formatting of a hard

disk is a separate step that is usually performed by the disk

manufacturer. If your Equity 386 came equipped with a hard disk,

that disk has already been physically formatted. The procedures

described in Chapter 3 are all you need to do to prepare your hard
disk for use.

You may need to follow the instructions in this appendix if you
purchase an additional hard disk for your computer, and that

additional disk has not already been physically formatted. You may

also need to repeat the physical formatting process if you experience
serious problems with a hard disk.

However, before reformatting a disk that appears to be damaged, use

the Non-destructive surface analysis test to determine if formatting is

necessary. If errors occur during this test, back up your disk. Then

run the Conditional format option, followed by the Destructive

surface analysis. These tests are described in this appendix.

The physical formatting process destroys all data on the disk. It also

removes the partitioning information supplied by the MS-DOS

FDISK command and the logical formatting information supplied by

the MS-DOS FORMAT or SELECT command. Therefore, after

physically reformatting a hard disk, you need to repeat the procedures

described in Chapter 3 to prepare your hard disk for use.

Physically Formatting a 

Disk

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