Int 13h, 1Ah            Format ESDI Unit                                 PS/2

Formats IBM ESDI Fixed Disks.

Entry AH = 1Ah
AL = Relative Block Address (RBA) defect table block count
= 0 → No RBA table
> 0 → RBA table used
ES:BX = Address of RBA table
CL = Modifier bits:
Bit 7 Must be 0
Bit 6 Must be 0
Bit 5 Must be 0
Bit 4 1 → Perform periodic interrupt
(interrupt formatting
after every cylinder so
host program can show
formatting progress)
Bit 3 = 1 → Perform extended surface
analysis
Bit 2 = 1 → Update secondary defect map
Bit 1 = 1 → Ignore secondary defect map
Bit 0 = 1 → Ignore primary defect map
DL = Drive Number (Bit 7 = 1 for hard disks)

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This service is for formatting high-capacity PS/2 hard disks. The
software for this process is provided in the ESDI adapter for
these disks. You have the option of requesting automatic
interruptions after every cylinder is formatted (which means your
program can list the cylinder number currently being formatted).

Note
This format may take more than an hour to complete, and is usually
only performed by operating system software.