Windows Low Level Format Command

See full list on maketecheasier.com. Jun 04, 2005 The fdformat command is used to perform the low-level formatting of floppy disks. Floppy disks usually come from the factory already formatted with a FAT (File Allocation Table) filesystem for use on MS-DOS and the Microsoft Windows operating systems. (The Windows. installer is the same for the GUI and CLI.) In Windows: Open Command Prompt as Administrator. Open Windows menu. Type command prompt. Click Run as administrator. In Linux.: Open Terminal (for example, CTRL+ALT+T). Type the following: intelmas show -intelssd (Images in the following steps are from Windows as an example.

  1. Windows Low Level Format Command Manager
  2. Windows Low Level Format Command File

The format command is used to erase information from a computer diskette or fixed drive.

Tip

Although the information appears to be erased, it is still possible for software recovery programs to recover information from a formatted drive. If you want to make sure no information can be recovered from a drive, use a software utility to make sure all data is erased and overwritten. See: How to make sure all data is erased on a computer hard drive.

Availability

HDD Low Level Format Tool Free & Safe Download for Windows from RocketFiles.com. An application that is used in the case of constant data corruption and virus intrusion. Download HDD Low Level Format Tool for Windows now from Softonic: 100% safe and virus free. More than 589 downloads this month. Download HDD Low Level Format Tool latest version 2020.

Format is an external command that is available for the following Microsoft operating systems as format.com.

Windows Low Level Format Command Manager

  1. Aug 17, 2018 In this tutorial, we explain how you can format a hard drive using the command prompt. Before proceeding further, make sure you backup all available data to prevent data loss.
  2. The format command creates a new root directory and file system for the disk. It can also check for bad areas on the disk, and it can delete all data on the disk. To be able to use a new disk, you must first use this command to format the disk. After formatting a floppy disk, format displays the following message.

Format syntax

Windows Vista and later syntax

volumeSpecifies the drive letter (followed by a colon), mount point, or volume name.
/FS:filesystemSpecifies the file system (FAT, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, UDF, ReFS).
/V:labelSpecifies the volume label.
/QPerforms a quick format. Note that this switch overrides /P.
/CNTFS only: Files created on the new volume will be compressed by default.
/XForces the volume to dismount first if necessary. All opened handles to the volume would no longer be valid.
/R:revision UDF only: Forces the format to a specific UDF version (1.02, 1.50, 2.00, 2.01, 2.50). The default revision is 2.01.
/DUDF 2.50 only: Metadata will be duplicated.
/LNTFS Only: Use large size file records. By default, the volume will be formatted with small size file records.
/A:size

Overrides the default allocation unit size. Default settings
are strongly recommended for general use.
ReFS supports 64 K.
NTFS supports 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16 K, 32 K, 64 K.
FAT supports 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16 K, 32 K, 64 K, (128 K, 256 K for sector size > 512 bytes).
FAT32 supports 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16 K, 32 K, 64 K, (128 K, 256 K for sector size > 512 bytes).
exFAT supports 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16 K, 32 K, 64 K, 128 K, 256 K, 512 K, 1 M, 2 M, 4 M, 8 M, 16 M, 32 M.

Note that the FAT and FAT32 files systems impose the following restrictions on the number of clusters on a volume:

FAT: Number of clusters <= 65526
FAT32: 65526 < Number of clusters < 4177918

Format will immediately stop processing if it decides that the above requirements cannot be met using the specified cluster size.

NTFS compression is not supported for allocation unit sizes above 4096.

/F:sizeSpecifies the size of the floppy disk to format (1.44).
/T:tracksSpecifies the number of tracks per disk side.
/N:sectorsSpecifies the number of sectors per track.
/P:countZero every sector on the volume. After that, the volume will be overwritten 'count' times using a different random number each time. If 'count' is zero, no additional overwrites are made after zeroing every sector. This switch is ignored when /Q is specified.
/S:stateSpecifies support for short file names (enable, disable). Short names are disabled by default.
/I:stateReFS only: Specifies whether integrity should be enabled on the new volume. The 'state' is either 'enable' or 'disable' Integrity is enabled on storage that supports data redundancy by default.

Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP syntax

volumeSpecifies the drive letter (followed by a colon), mount point, or volume name.
/FS:filesystemSpecifies the file system (FAT, FAT32, or NTFS).
/V:labelSpecifies the volume label.
/QPerforms a quick format.
/CFiles created on the new volume will be compressed by default.
/XForces the volume to dismount first if necessary. All opened handles to the volume would no longer be valid.
/A:sizeOverrides the default allocation unit size. Default settings are strongly recommended for general use.
NTFS supports 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16 K, 32 K, 64 K.
FAT supports 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16 K, 32 K, 64 K, (128 K, 256 K for sector size > 512 bytes).
FAT32 supports 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16 K, 32 K, 64 K, (128 K, 256 K for sector size > 512 bytes).

Note that the FAT and FAT32 files systems impose the below restrictions on the number of clusters on a volume:

FAT: Number of clusters <= 65526 FAT32: 65526 < Number of clusters < 268435446

Format will immediately stop processing if it decides that the above requirements cannot be met using the specified cluster size.

NTFS compression is not supported for allocation unit sizes above 4096.

/F:sizeSpecifies the size of the floppy disk to format (160, 180, 320, 360, 640, 720, 1.2, 1.23, 1.44, 2.88, or 20.8).
/T:tracksSpecifies the number of tracks per disk side.
/N:sectorsSpecifies the number of sectors per track.
/1Formats a single side of a floppy disk.
/4Formats a 5.25-inch 360 K floppy disk in a high-density drive.
/8Formats eight sectors per track.

Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP Recovery Console syntax

Formats a disk for use with Windows 2000.

drive:Specifies the drive to format.
/qPerforms a quick format.
/fs:file-systemSpecifies the file system to use (FAT, FAT32, or NTFS).

Microsoft Windows 95, 98, ME syntax

Formats a disk for use with MS-DOS.

/V[:label]Specifies the volume label.
/QPerforms a quick format.
/F:sizeSpecifies the size of the floppy disk to format (such as 160, 180, 320, 360, 720, 1.2, 1.44, 2.88).
/BAllocates space on the formatted disk for system files.
/SCopies system files to the formatted disk.
/T:tracksSpecifies the number of tracks per disk side.
/N:sectorsSpecifies the number of sectors per track.
/1Formats a single side of a floppy disk.
/4Formats a 5.25-inch 360 K floppy disk in a high-density drive.
/8Formats eight sectors per track.
/CTests clusters that are currently marked 'bad.'

Format examples

Windows Low Level Format Command File

Caution

When using the format command, remember all the information on the drive you want to format will be completely erased.

Would erase all the contents off a floppy disk. Commonly used on a diskette that has not been formatted or on a diskette you want to erase. Bluebird app download for android.

Quickly erases all the contents of a floppy diskette. Commonly used to quickly erase all information on the diskette.

Erase the contents of your C: hard drive. In other words, unless you want to erase all your computer's information, this command should not be executed unless you're planning on starting over.

Note

If you're in Windows or files on the hard drive are in use, this command will not work. If you want to format the primary hard drive you'll need to boot from a bootable diskette, restore disc, or another bootable drive.

Additional information