Microsoft KB Archive/84297

= FORMAT Command Formats Current Drive in MS-DOS 1.x, 2.x =

Article ID: 84297

Article Last Modified on 11/16/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft MS-DOS 1.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 2.11 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.1
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.2 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.21 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.3 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.3a
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 4.01 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0a
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.2 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.21 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q84297



SUMMARY
In MS-DOS versions 1.x and 2.x, the FORMAT command formats the current drive unless another drive is specified. For example, the command   C:\dos>format formats drive C.

MS-DOS versions 3.0 and later require that you specify the drive to be formatted (for example, FORMAT C:); if no drive is specified, FORMAT displays the error:

Required parameter missing



MORE INFORMATION
Also in versions 3.0 and later, FORMAT displays the message

WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST!

Proceed with Format (Y/N)?

when you issue the FORMAT command for a hard drive. To format the drive, press Y, then press ENTER.

In MS-DOS versions 4.x, FORMAT requires that you enter the drive volume label before it will format a hard disk. This protection feature was removed from MS-DOS versions 5.0 and 5.0a.

Additional query words: 6.22 1.0 1.00 1.1 1.10 2.0 2.00 2.1 2.10 2.11 3.0 3.00 3.0a 3.00a 3.1 3.10 3.2 3.20 3.21 3.3 3.30 3.3a 3.30a 4.0 4.00 4.0a 4.00a 4.01 4.01a 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20

Keywords: KB84297

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