Datasheet

Format Track
This command erases 32 sectors starting at the sector specified by the Cylinder, Head, and Sector Number
parameters in the task file. If the sector is not valid, an IDNF (ID Not Found) ) bit is set in the Error Register and the
command terminates.
In CHS mode, the number of sectors to format per track will be set to the number of Current Sectors per Track in the
Identify Drive data, by default 20h. Otherwise, it will be set to the number of sectors per track as set by an Initialize
Drive Parameters command. must be the same as the actual number of sectors per track reported .
In LBA mode, the number of sectors to format per track is specified by the Host in the Sector Count register. The
sector count must be set to 20h, otherwise the command will be aborted.
For backward compatibility, the card accepts one sector of data from the host . This data is not used. The "Erase"
function is then called to erase the sectors indicated by this command (and any other sectors also marked "Old" by
any previous operation).
Format Track Command Issued by Host
Task File Register 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
COMMAND 50h
DRIVE/HEAD nu L nu D H[3:0] or LBA[27:24] of the starting sector/LBA
CYLINDER HI Cylinder[15:8] or LBA[23:16] of the first sector/LBA to transfer
CYLINDER LOW Cylinder[7:0] or LBA[15:8] of the first sector/LBA to transfer
SECTOR START [LBA mode only] LBA[7:0] of the first sector/LBA to transfer
SECTOR COUNT [LBA mode only] The number of sectors to be formatted on the track. Must be set to 20h
FEATURES nu
Command Block specified upon completion/termination of Format Track command (50h)
Task File Register 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
BSY DRDY DWF DSC DRQ CORR IDX ERR
STATUS 0 1 0 1 V V 0 V
DRIVE/HEAD na na na na na
CYLINDER HI na
CYLINDER LOW na
SECTOR na
SECTOR COUNT na
BBK UNC MC IDNF MCR ABRT TK0NF AMNF
ERROR 0 0 0 0 0 V 0 0