Format is a command used to format different drives. This can include USB drives or even external hard drives. To use this command simply open command prompt and type "format". then you must enter the drive letter you wish to format. If you want to know the file system of a drive you can type in format k: /fs:filesystem and it will tell you the type of file system that drive has on it. In this example I chose 'K' because that's the specific drive letter for my USB but yours may be different.
Note: If you attempt to format your actual hard drive you will receive a message saying "access denied".
Note: If you attempt to format your actual hard drive you will receive a message saying "access denied".
In this example I chose to format my USB drive. In this case the specific drive letter was K so i typed in "format K" in the command prompt and pressed enter. It may take a few minutes for it to completely finish formatting.
Here are some extensions that can be used with the command format./fs:file-system : Specifies the file system to use FAT, FAT32, or NTFS Floppy disks can use only the FAT file system.
/v:label : Specifies the volume label. If you omit the /v command-line option or use it without specifying a volume label, format prompts you for the volume label after the formatting is completed. Use the syntax /v: to prevent the prompt for a volume label. If you format more than one disk by using one format command, all of the disks will be given the same volume label. For more information about disk volume labels, click Dir, Label, and Vol in the Related Topics list.
/a:UnitSize : Specifies the allocation unit size to use on FAT, FAT32, or NTFS volumes. If you do not specify UnitSize, it is chosen based on volume size. The following table lists valid values for UnitSize.
/q : Performs a quick format. Deletes the file table and the root directory of a previously formatted volume but does not perform a sector by sector scan for bad areas. You should use the /q command-line option to format only previously formatted volumes that you know are in good condition.
/f:size : Specifies the size of the floppy disk to format. When possible, use this command-line option instead of the /t and /n command-line options.
/t:tracks : Specifies the number of tracks on the disk. When possible, use the /f command-line option instead of this command-line option. If you use the /t command-line option, you must also use the /n command-line option. These two command-line options provide an alternative method of specifying the size of the disk being formatted. You cannot use the /f command-line option with the /t command-line option.
/n:sectors : Specifies the number of sectors per track. When possible, use the /f command-line option instead of this command-line option. If you use the /n command-line option, you must also use the /t command-line option. These two command-line options provide an alternative method of specifying the size of the disk being formatted. You cannot use the /f command-line option with the /n command-line option.
/c : NTFS only. Files created on the new volume will be compressed by default.
/x : Causes the volume to dismount, if necessary, before it is formatted. Any open handles to the volume will no longer be valid.
/? : Displays help at the command prompt.
/v:label : Specifies the volume label. If you omit the /v command-line option or use it without specifying a volume label, format prompts you for the volume label after the formatting is completed. Use the syntax /v: to prevent the prompt for a volume label. If you format more than one disk by using one format command, all of the disks will be given the same volume label. For more information about disk volume labels, click Dir, Label, and Vol in the Related Topics list.
/a:UnitSize : Specifies the allocation unit size to use on FAT, FAT32, or NTFS volumes. If you do not specify UnitSize, it is chosen based on volume size. The following table lists valid values for UnitSize.
/q : Performs a quick format. Deletes the file table and the root directory of a previously formatted volume but does not perform a sector by sector scan for bad areas. You should use the /q command-line option to format only previously formatted volumes that you know are in good condition.
/f:size : Specifies the size of the floppy disk to format. When possible, use this command-line option instead of the /t and /n command-line options.
/t:tracks : Specifies the number of tracks on the disk. When possible, use the /f command-line option instead of this command-line option. If you use the /t command-line option, you must also use the /n command-line option. These two command-line options provide an alternative method of specifying the size of the disk being formatted. You cannot use the /f command-line option with the /t command-line option.
/n:sectors : Specifies the number of sectors per track. When possible, use the /f command-line option instead of this command-line option. If you use the /n command-line option, you must also use the /t command-line option. These two command-line options provide an alternative method of specifying the size of the disk being formatted. You cannot use the /f command-line option with the /n command-line option.
/c : NTFS only. Files created on the new volume will be compressed by default.
/x : Causes the volume to dismount, if necessary, before it is formatted. Any open handles to the volume will no longer be valid.
/? : Displays help at the command prompt.