Divide By Zero Error with MS-DOS FORMAT Command (104996)



The information in this article applies to:
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22

This article was previously published under Q104996

SYMPTOMS

If you try to format a 255-head drive you receive a "divide by zero" error message.

CAUSE

MS-DOS FORMAT does not support drives with more than 254 heads.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS versions 5.x, 6.0, 6.2, and 6.21. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Modification Type: Major Last Reviewed: 5/6/2003
Keywords: KB104996