format |
partition or volume.
Syntax
format Volume /fs:{FAT | FAT32 | NTFS} [/v:Label] [/a:UnitSize] [/q] [/c] [/x]
Options
- Volume
Drive letter, volume name, or mount point to format.- /fs:{FAT | FAT32 | NTFS}
Type of filesystem to create.- /v:Label
Label for volume.- /a:UnitSize
Size of allocation unit (if omitted, the command chooses the optimal
allocation unit based on the size of the volume).- /q
Quick format (deletes file table and root directory but
doesn't scan for bad sectors.- /c
Files created on an NTFS volume are compressed by default.- /x
Dismounts volume before formatting. All open file handles are closed.
Examples
Format F: drive using NTFS, assign it the label
MYVOL, and compress the volume:
format f: /fs:NTFS /v:MYVOL /c
The type of the file system is RAW.
The new file system is NTFS.
WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK
DRIVE F: WILL BE LOST!
Proceed with Format (Y/N)? y
Verifying 502M
Creating file system structures.
Format complete.
514079 KB total disk space.
509129 KB are available.
Format a mount point named newvol using FAT32:
format newvol /fs:FAT32
The type of the file system is RAW.
The new file system is FAT32.
WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK
DRIVE C:\newvol WILL BE LOST!
Proceed with Format (Y/N)? y
Verifying 502M
Initializing the File Allocation Table (FAT)...
Volume label (11 characters, ENTER for none)? Budget
Format complete.
525,373,440 bytes total disk space.
525,369,344 bytes available on disk.
4,096 bytes in each allocation unit.
128,264 allocation units available on disk.
32 bits in each FAT entry.
Volume Serial Number is A83C-2E40
Notes
When format is used with the Recovery Console,
only the /fs and /q switches
can be used.
See Also
chkdsk, chkntfs,
convert, defrag,
diskpart, Disks ,
label, mountvol