Low Leve Disk Routines

[Shift838]

Can C++ utilize low level disk routines to format floppy disk at a sector or track level?

 

[Salem]

It depends entirely on what your OS allows you to do (messing directly with the hardware is usually not allowed), and what in the way of an API your compiler provides you with.

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[Shift838]

I know this is possible I have seen it do it via Quickbasic and assembly compiled code. Not sure if it can be done with windows 2000 or xp since these OS really limit the ability to mess with hardware. What I want to do is to create a program that will allow you to format and write sectors on a floppy in a differnet computer format than the standard PC format. And finally be able to transfer files from the pc to the newly formatted disk.

I would like to do this with C or Visual Basic, not sure if VB will do it or not.

Where can I find some examples of low level disk routines?

 

[Salem]

Try this (since you're on 2K/XP)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/devio/base/deviceiocontrol.asp

Use CreateFile() to gain access to a physical disk

Use the "Disk Management Control Codes" to do things to the disk, say for example IOCTL_DISK_FORMAT_TRACKS

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