MD Format for Windows 95

                            Index

Summery and Run

New Function

Target Disk

Setting Parameter

Notice

© SONY Corporation 1994-1996


Summery

MDfmt is utility software on Windows95 for initialize MD DATA disc.

To start this format utility, double click on "MDfmt" icon in a directory�@where MD DATA utilities were installed (default "/Mddata") using Explore or�@click on Start button and select "Start/Program/Mddata/MDfmt".

When you start "MDfmt", a window shows a list of connected MD DATA drive(s).  Select one to be formatted.  If you want to change the default setting, click on "Setting" button.

"Help" button will activate this Help function.

"Start" button will start formatting operation.

"Cancel" button will quit the operation at the moment and exit from this utility.  However, during "Standard" formatting operation, this button is disabled.

For the detail of "Setting " dialog, see "New Function".  Additional

parameters can be set now.


New Function

Mirror Mode

Extend VMA

Allocation Block Size

Standard Mode

Quick Mode


Target Disk

Audio MiniDisc can not be formatted.  Use disc of MD DATA.


Setting Parameter

Mirror mode

If a disc is formatted with this switch ON, VMA (Volume Management Area) is always duplicated in another area.  When any problem occurs in theoriginal VMA, information in the duplicated VMA can be used if it isavailable.  This is safer mode.  Default is OFF.

Extend VMAIf a disc is formatted with this switch ON, double space is allocated for VMA(Volume Management Area).  Twice as many number of files and folders as standard format can be created.  Default is OFF.

When a disc is formatted with these switch(es) on, the formatted disc capacity is reduced a little.

Allocation Block Size

Allocation Block Size is a data unit on the disc managed by the MD DATA File System.  When it is set large, access performance is improved.  But disc space is not utilized efficiently because physical capacity allocated to each file is rounded up by the Allocation Block Size.  When it is set small, disc space efficiency is improved.  But practical performance may decrease due to increase of access frequency.

Standard mode

In the STANDARD format, whole disc space is certified and physically defective cluster is excluded from the logical usable space.  This operation takes about 35 minutes and can not be quitted in the middle.

Quick mode

In the QUICK format, only space for VMA (Volume Management Area) is certified.  This operation takes about 2 minutes and can not be quitted in the middle.


NOTICE

Once a disc is formatted, files written previously will not be recovered.

It is not allowed to plurally start this utility and start formatting with a drive that is already being formatted.

While formatting in "Standard" mode, other application process might be slowed down.

The disc can not be formatted while other program is using the drive.  Stop the program.

You can not access to MD DATA drive while a disc is being formatted.  Especially during the STANDARD formatting, be careful not to access the MD DATA�@drive from other application.


"VMA" is an abbreviation of Volume Management Area, meaning an area on MD DATA where file management data is recorded.