ProFile hard disks cannot low-level format on their own. There was not enough space in ROM to fit the operating code and the formatter. Second issue is that unless you had an early ProFile drive they all shipped with a more conventional black plastic DIP package where the ROM was an internal mask ROM.
This is the ceramic "ROMless" version of the Z8 microcontroller where the code was supplied on an easily interchangeable EPROM that plugged in a piggybacked socket. I simply burn the formatter image to a 2732, drop it on the Z8, drop that into the Z8 socket on the ProFile along with jumpering two pins and you are ready to LLF and recertify an ST-506 or ST-412 HDA.
Because they are both purple ceramic and gold capped, the gold bugs try to sell them for crazy amounts. This one only cost $30.