1.2MB External Drive  (250-1087)     BACKFMT            Faxback Doc. # 5341

THE BACKFMT COMMAND

Backfmt is a background formatting program. It enables you to initialize
diskettes while you continue running other programs.

The first time backfmt is run, it prompts for configuration settings. The
settings you specify are used to update the backfmt.com file. Because
configuration settings are stored in this file, it is not necessary to
configure backfmt each time you turn on the computer. If you want to change a
configuration setting, type the /c option on the command line.

The syntax for the backfmt command is:  backfmt [options]

where:

[options] are /c and /d:

/c    enables you to change some backfmt options after the initial
      installation.

/d    disables backfmt and removes it from memory.

The square brackets indicate that neither option is required.

Configuring Backfmt

To make the background formatter available, you must run the backfmt program,
At the MS-DOS prompt (A> or C>), type: backfmt and press [ENTER]. The program
displays a message indicating that it has no yet been configured. Configura-
tion consists of answering a few simple questions, such as:

* Would you like to change the background formatter access key? Normally, you
  would press [CTRL] + [ALT] + [F] to begin background formatting. This
question enables you to change the keys.

* What would you like BACKFMT to do when it completes the initialization of a
  diskette? Select how you would like to be informed that formatting is
  completed.

* Would you like the diskette to be verified after formatting? You should
  always have the diskette verified for normal operation. If you tell backfmt
  not to verify, it verifies only the first cylinder, where the directory is
  placed. If that cylinder is good, formatting continues without further
  verification, Turning verification off cuts the formatting time by 20 to 30
  percent.

* Are you using a color monitor? Answer Yes only if you are using a color
  monitor. Answer No for a monochrome monitor. A correct response to this
  question improves readability.

Using Backfmt

Once backfmt is configured, you can invoke the background formatting from
within an application.

1. Press [CTRL] + [ALT] + [F] or the key combination you selected.

A window appears at the top of your screen, displaying the available drives
and formats.

2. Using the direction keys, select the drive and format capacity your want.

3. Press [ENTER] to confirm your choices.

Another window displays your selection and gives you another chance to change
the drive and format before formatting begins.

4. Press [ENTER] to start formatting.

You are returned to the application you were running when you invoked the
formatter.

To display the status of the format, you can press the access key combination
during formatting. Press any key to remove the status window.

Depending on how you configured backfmt, a window might appear when
initialization is complete or if an error occurs. The display will be
self-explanatory. If you configured backfmt so it does not display a window,
the result will be displayed when you press the access key combination again.

Reconfiguring and Removing Backfmt

If you need to change the configuration of the backfmt command, enter the
command with the /c option as follows:  backfmt /c

Answer the formatting questions again. The necessary changes will be made to
the backfmt.com file and will take effect immediately.

If you need to remove backfmt from memory, use the following command from the
MS-DOS prompt:  backfmt /d

CAUTION: Do not use a memory management program to remove backfmt from
memory.  While in memory, backfmt is closely linked to extdrvr.sys and, if
improperly removed, will cause system failure.

(css 07/30/93)