Commodore 64 (C64) forums

Hello all:

I recently purchased a commodore 64 after 30 years of not using one. I am slowly getting into it, but I need some help. Can someone help me out? I am trying to format a floppy disk but i have honestly forgotten how to. Can someone help???

OPEN 15,8,15,"N0:DISKNAME,ID":CLOSE 15

That does a full format with the name DISKNAME and the two-character ID.
It can be best to do this the first time you use a disk so all the sectors are properly formatted.

You can "wipe" a disk using the quick format syntax
OPEN 15,8,15',"N:DISKNAME":CLOSE 15

That's N Zero, not N O in the first example

Manual for the 1541 disk drive:

http://www.commodore.ca/manuals/pdfs/co ... manual.pdf

Slight unrelated. Anyone know why they chose the number "1541"?

It's a product number. I think there is a website detailing the known numbers, but can't remember it.

merman wrote:OPEN 15,8,15,"N0:DISKNAME,ID":CLOSE 15

If you have a DOS wedge available, disk commands require a lot less typing.

For example, to do a 'long' format:
@N:DISKNAME,ID

You can get a DOS wedge either in software (one comes with the 1541 demo disk), or as a hardware solution (any fastload cartridge or Kernel ROM replacement should have one).

An almost useless bit of information: If you have a Warp Speed cartridge, it has a 15 second format, as @f<return>.