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Syntax
Microsoft Windows 95, 98, ME syntax
Formats a disk for use with MS-DOS.
FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/F:size] [/B | /S] [/C]
FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/T:tracks /N:sectors] [/B | /S] [/C]
FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/1] [/4] [/B | /S] [/C]
FORMAT drive: [/Q] [/1] [/4] [/8] [/B | /S] [/C]
| /V[:label] |
Specifies the volume label. |
| /Q |
Performs a quick format. |
| /F:size |
Specifies the size of the floppy disk to format (such as 160, 180, 320, 360, 720, 1.2,
1.44, 2.88). |
| /B |
Allocates space on the formatted disk for system files. |
| /S |
Copies system files to the formatted disk. |
| /T:tracks |
Specifies the number of tracks per disk side. |
| /N:sectors |
Specifies the number of sectors per track. |
| /1 |
Formats a single side of a floppy disk. |
| /4 |
Formats a 5.25-inch 360K floppy disk in a high-density drive. |
| /8 |
Formats eight sectors per track. |
| /C |
Tests clusters that are currently marked "bad." |
Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP syntax
Formats a disk for use with Windows 2000.
FORMAT volume [/FS:file-system] [/V:label] [/Q] [/A:size] [/C] [/X]
FORMAT volume [/V:label] [/Q] [/F:size]
FORMAT volume [/V:label] [/Q] [/T:tracks /N:sectors]
FORMAT volume [/V:label] [/Q] [/1] [/4]
FORMAT volume [/Q] [/1] [/4] [/8]
| volume |
Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon),
mount point, or volume name. |
| /FS:filesystem |
Specifies the type of the file system (FAT, FAT32, or NTFS). |
| /V:label |
Specifies the volume label. |
| /Q |
Performs a quick format. |
| /C |
Files created on the new volume will be compressed by default. |
| /X |
Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary. All opened handles to the volume would no longer be valid. |
| /A:size |
Overrides the default allocation unit size. Default settings are strongly recommended for general use.
NTFS supports 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16K, 32K, 64K.
FAT supports 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16K, 32K, 64K, (128K, 256K for sector size > 512 bytes).
FAT32 supports 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16K, 32K, 64K, (128K, 256K for sector size > 512 bytes).
Note that the FAT and FAT32 files systems impose the
below restrictions on the number of clusters on a volume:
FAT: Number of clusters <= 65526 FAT32: 65526 < Number of clusters < 268435446
Format will immediately stop processing if it decides that
the above requirements cannot be met using the specified cluster size.
NTFS compression is not supported for allocation unit sizes
above 4096. |
| /F:size |
Specifies the size of the floppy disk to format (160,
180, 320, 360, 640, 720, 1.2, 1.23, 1.44, 2.88, or 20.8). |
| /T:tracks |
Specifies the number of tracks per disk side. |
| /N:sectors |
Specifies the number of sectors per track. |
| /1 |
Formats a single side of a floppy disk. |
| /4 |
Formats a 5.25-inch 360K floppy disk in a high-density drive. |
| /8 |
Formats eight sectors per track. |
Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP recovery console
syntax
Formats a disk for use with Windows 2000.
format [drive:] [/q] [/fs:file-system]
| drive: |
Specifies the drive to format. |
| /q |
Performs a quick format. |
| /fs:file-system |
Specifies the file system to use (FAT, FAT32, or NTFS) |
Examples
When using the format command, remember all information on the drive you wish
to format will be completely erased.
format a:
Would erase all the contents off a
disk. Commonly used on a diskette that has not been formatted or
on a diskette
you wish to erase.
format a: /q
Quickly erases all the contents of a floppy
diskette.
Commonly used to quickly erase all information on the diskette.
format c:
This would erase all the contents of your C: hard
disk drive. In other words, unless you wish to erase all your
computer's information, this command should not be done unless
you're planning to start over.
Additional information
- Additional information about formatting your computer hard disk
drive and starting over can be found on document
CH000186.
- Help with formatting a floppy diskette in MS-DOS can be
found on document CH000727.
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