.BAT and .TXT files for DOS 2.0
for use with hard disk.
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| FORMAT utility for the |
| IBM-XT with DOS 2.0. |
| by Burgess Allison |
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This is a method for protecting your
hard disk from being accidentally erased by IBM's FORMAT command. If you loaded DOS onto the hard disk, then enter the FORMAT command with no parameters, it automatically begins erasing the default drive. If you're in C: you're in trouble.
Instructions for using the utility
are explained in the batch file.
To install the utility, create a
sub-directory called PCDOS:
MD PCDOS <return> CD PCDOS <return>
Copy the FORMAT.BAT file into this
directory. Create, from within PCDOS, a sub-directory called FORMAT:
MD FORMAT <return> CD FORMAT <return>
Create, from within FORMAT, another
sub-directory called SAFETY:
MD SAFETY <return> CD SAFETY <return>
Copy the FORMAT.COM command from
your DOS 2.0 diskette into this sub- directory, but name the newly-created file XYZZY.COM. Copy the three FORMAT. TX* files into this sub-directory.
Then either put a PATH C:\PCDOS
command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT, or leave the FORMAT.BAT file out in the root directory.
Obviously, you don't have to use any
of the names I used, but those are the names referenced in the batch file.
By way of explanation, I have all my
DOS files (with .COM or .BAT extensions) stored in the PCDOS subdirectory. By using a PATH command in AUTOEXEC.BAT, I have access to all those commands without having to fill up the root directory.
Good luck.
Burgess Allison
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ ³ ³ This FORMAT command has been developed for the IBM-XT ³ ³ to protect against accidental erasure of the hard disk. ³ ³ ³ ³ It will only format diskettes in drive A: ³ ³ ³ ³ Use the FORMAT command just as described in DOS 2.0, ³ ³ but do not specify the A: drive. That parameter is ³ ³ automatically forced. ³ ³ ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
Sample batch job follows….
ECHO OFF TYPE \PCDOS\FORMAT\SAFETY\FORMAT.TX1 ECHO The FORMAT command you have specified is: FORMAT A:%1 TYPE \PCDOS\FORMAT\SAFETY\FORMAT.TX2 PAUSE TYPE \PCDOS\FORMAT\SAFETY\FORMAT.TX3 PATH C:\;C:\PCDOS;C:\PCDOS\FORMAT\SAFETY XYZZY A:%1 ECHO ON PATH C:\;C:\PCDOS
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