fdformat

fdformat [-n] [-v] [-q] device

device
    The device name of the floppy drive (e.g., /dev/fd0).

-n
    Don't verify the newly formatted disk.

-v
    Verbose mode.

-q
    Quick format. Only clears the FAT without low-level formatting.

The fdformat command is a utility used to format floppy disks. It's important to note that fdformat is considered obsolete and potentially dangerous on modern systems. It directly accesses the floppy drive hardware and can cause data loss or damage if used incorrectly, especially on systems where the floppy drive is not properly configured or supported. Modern systems and utilities like mkfs.msdos and dd are generally preferred for creating formatted filesystems on removable media.

fdformat performs a low-level format of the floppy disk, writing track and sector information onto it. This process effectively erases any existing data on the disk. It may also attempt to verify the newly formatted sectors, marking bad sectors to prevent them from being used in the future. This is especially useful for older disks or disks which have not been used for some time.

Using fdformat generally requires root privileges, as it involves direct hardware access. Its usage is highly discouraged unless there's a specific need to format floppy disks on older hardware where modern formatting tools are not available or not working properly.

Using fdformat on incorrect devices can lead to data loss. This command is considered obsolete and potentially dangerous on modern systems.

Because fdformat directly accesses hardware, running it without proper understanding and as the wrong user can open security vulnerabilities.

fdformat was a standard tool for formatting floppy disks in older Linux distributions. Its usage has declined with the phasing out of floppy disks, replaced by formatting tools and utilities suited for USB drives and other media. The command was commonly used in the era when floppy disks were the primary means of data transfer and storage.

mkfs.msdos(8), dd(1)