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Q84297: FORMAT Command Formats Current Drive in MS-DOS 1.x, 2.x

Article: Q84297
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:1.x,2.x,3.x,4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 1.x, 2.11, 3.1, 3.2, 3.21, 3.3, 3.3a, 4.0, 4.01, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
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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

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS321 kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS1xSearch kbMSDOS320 kbMSDOS330a kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS310 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS330 kbMSDOS401 kbMSDOS500a kbMSDOS211
Version           : MS-DOS:1.x,2.x,3.x,4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22

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