Formatting Diskettes and Hard Disks

FORMAT

The FORMAT command prepares a diskette or hard disk for storage of information.

• The format program writes concentric tracks on each of these tracks being divided into a fixed number of sectors.
•  On the first track, the program creates a book -keeping system for the file names and table where the file block are located. called the File Allocation Table (FAT).

Syntax

FORMAT (DRIVE) [/s] [/v] [/F:sizes] [/1] [/B] [/4] [T: tracks] [/N:sectors] [/Q][/U]

Where,

drive : name of the drive containing the disk to be formatted.

/S     :  makes the formatted disk a System disk that can be used to boot the computer.

/V    : asks, at completion, for a name for the diskette or hard disk (i.e. Volume name) 

/F:size : Specify the capacity of the diskette in Kb or Mb. for example: 360 Kb, 720 Kb, 1.1 Mb, 1.4 Mb, 2.88 Mb

/1 : Formats a single side of a floppy diskette.

/8 : Makes 8 instead of 9 sectors per track.

/4 : Formats a 5.25 inch DD-diskette in HD-drive.

/T:tracks : Specifies the number of tracks.

Example

for 3.5 inch DD diskette (720 Kb) in a HD drive (capacity 1.44 Mb) the number of tracks is 80 (i.e./T:80)

/N:Sectors : Specifies number of sectors per track.    

Example

tracks=9 (i.e. /N:9)

Note :/T=tracks and /N : sectors must always be used on combination.

/Q : Quick format a previously formatted diskette.

/U : Preform unconditional format, which destroys all data on the target disk.

Note : There are so many options available with the FORMAT command, it seems that it will be very difficult to use this command, but actually it is not so; you will have to use less number of option in practice, and they are easy to use you can see in the following examples mentioned below :

Example 1

C:\>Format A: (press enter key)

It is used to format a disk in drive A:

Since the /F:size is omitted, the diskette will be formatted at the capacity of disk drive.

Example 2

A:\>Format C:  (press enter key)

It is used to format a hard disk. Immediately after pressing Enter key, you will get the Message:

WARNING : ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK

DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST !

Proceed with Format (Y/N)?

-if you press N, the FORMAT command will be cancelled.

- if you press Y, the formatting of hard disk(C:\>) will be continued,and like in floppy disk formatting , the percentage of formatting will be increased by 1,2,3 upto 100%

Note : Hard disk formatting is to be done with utmost care, otherwise your important programs, data application programs (e.g. dBASE, LOTUS) will all be erased or lost. 

Never give the FORMAT command without specifying the disk drive.
Example 3
C:\>FORMAT A:/F:360 (press enter key)
It is used to format a 360 Kb diskette in drive A:
Example 4
C:\>FORMAT B:/T:80 N:9(press enter key)
It is used to format a 3.5 inch diskette for a double density (DD) in a 3.5 inch high density (H.D.) drive B:

• Normally, 3.5 inch disk drive will format 80 tracks containing 18 sectors which produces a capacity of 1.44 inch Mb, which can be done using High Density (H.D.) diskettes.
• Using this example the high density (H.D.) disk drive will format a double density diskette with 80 tracks of 9 sectors, producing, capacity of 720 Kb.

Example 5
C:\>FORMAT A:/S (press enter key)
It is used to format a disk in drive A: and to transfer system files on to it (i.e. to make boot diskette)
Example 6
C:\>FORMAT A:/Q ( press enter key)
It is used for quick formatting of a disk in drive A:
Example 7
C:\>FORMAT A/4  (press enter key)
It is used to format 360 Kb disk in 1.2 Mb (high density) drive.
Example 8
C:\>B:/U  ( press enter key )
It is used to format a disk in drive B: unconditionally.
Example 9
C:\>FORMAT A:\V:CLASS IX (press enter key)
It is used to format a disk in drive A: and gives volume label class ix.