Microsoft KB Archive/82272

= FORMAT May Allow Access to Unformatted Drives =

Article ID: 82272

Article Last Modified on 11/16/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0a
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q82272



SYMPTOMS
If, while attempting to format a fixed disk, you terminate the MS-DOS FORMAT command by pressing N (No) at the

Proceed with Format (Y/N)

message, MS-DOS may allow access to a fixed disk drive even if it has never been properly formatted.

A drive accessed in this manner isn't stable for use with MS-DOS, and may report large numbers of lost allocation units or other problems when you run the MS-DOS CHKDSK command.



CAUSE
Responding N to the &quot;Proceed with Format (Y/N)?&quot; message causes FORMAT to incorrectly set the drive's SYSTEM (as reported by FDISK) to FAT12 or FAT16, allowing access to the unformatted drive.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS versions 5.0, 5.0a, and 6.0. This problem was corrected in MS-DOS FORMAT version 6.2.



WORKAROUND
To return the drive to its inaccessible status, simply reboot the machine. To prepare the drive for use with MS-DOS, use the FORMAT command to format the drive.

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 6.00

Keywords: KB82272

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