Method and apparatus for formatting a memory disk

A method of formatting a memory disk (10) comprising:

• storing information and a numerical variable associated therewith in a memory (32);
• loading a control counter (40) with said numerical variable;
• and
• writing said information onto said disk (10) for a number of times defined by said numerical variable.

A method of formatting a memory disk comprising:

• storing a string of packets in adjacent locations of a table in a memory (32), each packet containing a sequentially different byte of information to be written onto the disk (10) and a numerical variable defining the number of times that said byte is to be written onto the disk (10), said numerical variable being stored in even memory locations and its associated information byte being stored in the subsequent odd memory location;
• loading an address counter (38) with the first entry in the table;
• determining whether the contents of said address counter (38) are even or odd;
• loading a control counter (40) with the numerical variable if the contents of the address counter (38) are even, and then incrementing said address counter (38);
• writing the information byte addressed by said address counter (38) onto said disk (10) when the contents of the address counter (38) are odd, and then decrementing said control counter (46);
• and
• incrementing said address counter (38) when the control counter (40) reaches zero whereby said information byte is written onto said disk (10) for a number of times defined by its associated numerical variable.