Something I noticed last night when trying to share files with my friend on a Windoze PC via a zip disk. I went to DOS format the zip disk and discovered I no longer had that option (either through Iomega tools or the Finder). However when I formatted the disk on my friend's PC and returned the disk to my iBook, the DOS formatting option returned (seems to be only when you have a PC formatted disk in a drive). I've since checked on my B&W G3 at home and my beige G3 at work. Has anyone else found this?

Scott Strawbridge
Art Director
Inprint Design

[bluedog]

I noticed that in OS9, not just the latest update. It effectively prevents you from formatting a disk for a PC user, if you didn't get one from them, or you don't have a PC yourself. There are some older 3rd party disk utilities that allow PC formatting, but I don't feel comfortable with software that's untested in the latest OS releases.

Its a bummer, Apple doesn't show you how it can format, read/write and share files with PC users without a problem. Instead they add barriers to what was once quite easy.

[BLAZE_MkIV]

The Zip tools will let you DOS format a disk.

[Bugs Bunny]

The Zip tools will let you DOS format a disk.

Not with OS 9.1. If you still want this feature, you have to use the File Exchange Control Panel from OS 9.0. You cannot format Zip disks with Iomega tools in DOS format with 9.1

[Mosi]

Hey, great tip. It really works again with File Exchange from OS9.0. Don't know what the guys from Apple thougth when they murksed that....