[SOLVED] Format a Floppy With a Filesystem other than FAT

Zssfssz · 11-02-2011, 06:48 PM

I don't care if it makes the disk worthless due to overhead. It sounds cool and I want it! Simple question please answer. Is it also possible to defragment a floppy?
Using: Zenwalk 7 Standard Edition

neonsignal · 11-02-2011, 08:14 PM

Yes, you can use a different filesystem on a floppy (keep in mind the overhead of things like journals and so on might not fit!). For example, if your floppy device is /dev/fd0, the following will build the file system (this will lose any files already on the floppy):

Code:

mkfs -t ext2 /dev/fd0

Yes, you can defragment a filesystem on a floppy; just use the defragmentation program appropriate to the filesystem that you are using.

Zssfssz · 11-02-2011, 10:58 PM

Ok... Would it be possible with a special filesystem like UDF?

neonsignal · 11-03-2011, 12:13 AM

Yes, you can put UDF filesystems on various devices. Just use the udftools package for this.

Code:

mkudffs /dev/fd0

If you want specific block sizes or media-type strategies etc, you can specify these. I found I had to explicitly mount the floppy as UDF (the auto mounting selected the wrong filesystem type).

Code:

mount -t udf /dev/fd0 /media/floppy
umount /media/floppy

You've got me intrigued as to why you want to do this.

Zssfssz · 11-03-2011, 09:44 AM

I have no idea I just like sampling filesystems... And I just bought 100 (literally) floppys (I love vintage tecnoligy) for no apparent reason and since I'm a developer using a filesystem other than fat would... I have no idea. I would have to say when windows wouldn't let me choose anything else. It would also help me make my own filesystem.

I think it's for the reason in my first post; it sounds cool.

neonsignal · 11-03-2011, 07:25 PM

If you have a couple of floppy drives, how about a software RAID running off floppy? Pointless, but cool :-)