FormaHing
a
disk
Working with disk utilities
.:.
Hard
disk
and
3.5-lnch
disk
use's: Create
subdirectories
to
group
related files (business letters,
budgets,
and
so
forth).
Subdirectories make locating data easier. The System WllIl/es
book
explains
subdircaories.
-
I3cforc you can
put
data
on
a blank (fresh out
of
the
box) disk, you
must
format
the disk. Formatting is a process
whereby
the operating
system sets
up
a pallem
oftraeks
and
sectors
on
the disks. These
sectors
act like a
group
of
lillIe file cabinets, identifiable places
where the
computer
can
store
and
retrieve data. Formatting is also
known
as
lnit.iallzing.
When you get a
new
box
of
disks, format
all
of
Lhcm.
If you work with
more
than
one
operating
system (Apple
has
three: ProDOS,
DOS 3.3,
and
Pascal), format
some
for each. Write
the
name
of
the
operating system
on
a label
and
apply
it
to
the
disk. This is
imponant
beause
a program
running
in
one
operating
system
can't
work
with a disk formatted by a different operating system.
Disk
utilltlcs
are programs that work directly
with
files (copying,
renaming, deleting) and disks (preparing them for data
or
checking
for problems). This section describes six
basic
utilities:
• Formatting a disk
• Cataloging a disk
•
Copying
a disk
•
Copying
a file
• Deleting a file
• Renaming a file
"llie System Utilities book gives you detailed inslructions
on
how
to
use
these utilities. Read their descriptions
here
and
then
put
them
to
work.
Chapter
3:
More
AbQIJI
Disks
56
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