From: ams AT ludd DOT luth DOT se (Martin Str|mberg)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: bash and format don't mix
Date: 13 Jan 1999 20:19:02 GMT
Organization: University of Lulea, Sweden
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Eli Zaretskii (eliz AT is DOT elta DOT co DOT il) wrote:
: 
: On 11 Jan 1999, Martin Str|mberg wrote:
: 
: > If I try to format a floppy which is write protected in a: ("format /u
: > a:") the system becomes so sluggish it's impossible to do
: > anything. Only way to get the system back to useable state is to hit
: > the red button.
: 
: Did you try this from some other DJGPP program, like Less, or Emacs,
: or RHIDE?  If so, was the effect different?

less and doing "!format /u a:" gives the same effect.

: Trying to write to a protected floppy causes Int 24h.  DJGPP programs
: by default make Int 24h silently fail the call.  FORMAT probably tries
: to catch Int 24h and bails out with "Write protect error".  If the
: call fails instead, FORMAT will probably retry the operation several
: times before giving up.  The resultant disk-reset operations will
: indeed slow down the system, but eventually, FORMAT should give up and
: exit. 
: 
: Did you wait long enough?

I think I did. Anyway to make sure I started it off before going to
work today. Is 10 hours long enough? Still sluggish like a hedgehog in
syrup.


Right,

							MartinS