How do you format a 3.5" floppy disk IBM-style?

[Kaido]

I'm flashing a BIOS on an older motherboard. The BIOS readme says that I have to copy the files to an IBM-formatted floppy disk. It *has* to be an IBM-formatted disk; it specifically said that if you tried to format it through Windows (any version), it wouldn't work (I tried anyway, and it didn't work 🙂).

So. I don't have any blank IBM-formatted disks lying around, and I don't really want to buy any. Is there a program that will let me format them to the IBM format? Or do I just have to bite the bullet and buy some?

 

[corkyg]

That is an old term - what it means is IBM PC format as opposed to Macintosh. Just about all floppies you buy today come formatted for PCs, a.k.a., IBM. If you are running Windows, any time you format a floppy it is "IBM." Technically, MS-DOS.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: corkyg
That is an old term - what it means is IBM PC format as opposed to Macintosh. Just about all floppies you buy today come formatted for PCs, a.k.a., IBM. If you are running Windows, any time you format a floppy it is "IBM." Technically, MS-DOS.

hmm, that's weird. the bios page specifically said that if you formatted the floppy from win 98/2k/xp/etc, it wouldn't work (which I tried and it didn't work, lol.). It said it had to be a blank IBM-formatted disk. weird eh.

 

[Buk]

I've got a program called 'flashboot.exe' that makes a bootable floppy that contains only Autoexec.bat. Command.com, Ibmbio.com, and Ibmdos.com, nothing else. This is probably what you're looking for. A boot floppy made by Windows will have drvspace on it and I think that is your problem. Maybe the prog I have is on Bootdisk.com but, if you like, I can email it to you. LMK.........

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Buk
I've got a program called 'flashboot.exe' that makes a bootable floppy that contains only Autoexec.bat. Command.com, Ibmbio.com, and Ibmdos.com, nothing else. This is probably what you're looking for. A boot floppy made by Windows will have drvspace on it and I think that is your problem. Maybe the prog I have is on Bootdisk.com but, if you like, I can email it to you. LMK.........

ygpm, thx 😉

 

[WebDude]

Or try Dr-Dos. Text. Works for me.