# Formatting floppies past 1.44mb **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 5, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formatting-floppies-past-1-44mb/205734 "2003-10-05T17:58:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formatting-floppies-past-1-44mb/205734/1 "2003-10-05T17:58:24Z")
I’ve seen descriptions for programs like this before, but only yesterday found a working link for this DOS based program (In a Windows freeware site no less). Anyway, I’m wondering how this programs, or others like it work. Here’s a description from [http://www.pricelessware.org/2003/PL2003SYSTEMUTILITIES.htm#FormatTool](http://www.pricelessware.org/2003/PL2003SYSTEMUTILITIES.htm#FormatTool) > [@](#): > > SuperFormat (freeware) OS: Win 9x/ME/NT > (English) > SuperFormat lets you create additional disk space on a standard 3.5 inch floppy disk. The program formats the floppy to hold 1.72 MB of data instead of the standard 1.44 MB. It comes with an adequate help file and is easy to use. NOTE: SuperFormat runs in a DOS box. Users report that SuperFormat does not format disks properly in Win 2000/ XP. (Previously formatted disks can be used in these OS.) > Author/Home Page: FAIZ Software (Home Page N/A) > Download v 2.7 (20 KB) [http://195.241.84.246/zdnet/dlweek0127/sformat.zip](http://195.241.84.246/zdnet/dlweek0127/sformat.zip) So, I know that .28 MB isn’t much more, but still, how does it work? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formatting-floppies-past-1-44mb/205734/2 "2003-10-05T18:04:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joel \* > \*\*So, I know that .28 MB isn’t much more, but still, how does it work? Thanks. \*\* [How Superformat works (see bottom )](http://hegel.ittc.ukans.edu/topics/linux/man-pages/man1/superformat.1.html) ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formatting-floppies-past-1-44mb/205734/3 "2003-10-05T18:24:23Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formatting-floppies-past-1-44mb/205734/4 "2003-10-05T18:27:05Z")
Hey, I found a description from the author himself [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freeware-news/message/867?source=1](http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freeware-news/message/867?source=1) > [@](#): > > FAIZ SuperFormat - 20 KB > This is a freeware developed by yours truly. Themain object behind the project was to increase the available disk space . The software changes the way files are stored on the floppy .It utilises some of the space used by the file system to increase the storage space to 1.72 MB. > SuperFormat is here for review and views.Send your …ahem… expert opinions to faiz@i… provides for disk labelling, gives the head and track of unrepaired bad sectors. Yes, and while formatting it also repairs badsectors. > Superformat creates an entirely new file system which is where the “extra space” comes in from > OS: dos, win9\*, NT4 > Faiz Software Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formatting-floppies-past-1-44mb/205734/5 "2003-10-05T18:29:21Z")
Hmmm learn a new thing everyday around here. Good stuff.