Moll wrote:
I know there's programs that format 5.25" disks for ProDOS without
"grinding". Hyper-Format comes with FrEdWriter and its format starts
with a "reboot click". Also, "Pirate's Friend" (which looks like an
old version of Copy ][ Plus?) sets up the drives with a "reboot click"
too, rather than a fast *GRIND*.
I wonder how difficult it would be, considering I know very little
about the disk ][ and DOS 3.3, to write a DOS 3.3 disk formatter, -
doesn't need to make bootable disks - that doesn't *GRIND* the disk
drive.
Any reliable format routine must assume that there is no (accurate)
track information recorded on the disk, and so must find track 0
absolutely, by seeking "past" the stop.
You can choose the kind of noise you get, but, if your drive
doesn't have a track 0 sensor that disables stepping (as most
drives don't), you will have to get a recalibration noise of
some sort when formatting.