FORMAT + Formatting Disks
     Prepares a disk by rearranging random magnetic impulses into 
a series of tracks and sectors so that it is addressable by DOS.
    VERSION
          PC-DOS 2.0+ (revised from 1.0)
	  MS-DOS equivalent: FORMAT (2.0+)
    TYPE
          External 
    SYNTAX
	  [d:][path] FORMAT
	   fd:[1][V][4][/N:xx][/T:yy][/H]
    OPTIONS
	  [d:][path]	 Specifies the drive letter and path that
                         contain the FORMAT command file.
          fd:            Specifies the disk to be formatted.
          /S             Transfers DOS files to the disk being 
                         formatted.
          /1             Formats only one side of a double-sided 
                         disk.
          /8             Formats eight sectors per track instead 
                         of nine (not for hard disks).
          /V             Writes a volume label on the disk. 
                         Cannot be used with the /8 option.
          /B             Creates an eight sector per track disk 
                         and reserves space for DOS without 
                         transferring it.
          /4             Formats a single- or double-sided disk 
                         in a 1.2-megabyte high-capacity drive.
          /N:xx          Allows you to specify the number of
                         sectors per track to format.
          /T:yy          Allows you to specify the number of
                         tracks to format.
          /H             an undocumented switch that removes the "Insert new
			 diskette for drive x:" prompt. Be certain the correct
			 disk is in the drive before useing this switch as
			 formatting begins immediatly.
    EXAMPLES
	  FORMAT B:
formats the disk in drive B.
	  FORMAT B:/S
places the DOS files on the disk in drive B as it formats it, 
which makes the disk a system disk. To make the disk bootable as 
well, copy COMMAND.COM onto it.
	  FORMAT B:/V
writes a volume label on the disk being formatted. You will be 
prompted to enter a label. You can enter up to 11 characters.
	  FORMAT B:/1
formats the disk in drive B as a single-sided disk. For example, 
you may be using a double-sided floppy drive but want to format a 
disk so that it can be read by a single-sided drive.
	  FORMAT A:8
formats the disk in drive A as a single-sided disk, eight sectors 
per track. This makes the disk readable by a single-sided drive 
using version 1 of DOS.
	  FORMAT A:/B
formats the disk in drive A without actually transferring DOS to 
the disk but leaving room for it. You must use the SYS command to 
write the system files on a disk formatted with the /B option.
    MESSAGES
	  Attempted write protect violation
The disk you are trying to format is write-protected. Remove the 
write-protection or insert a new disk.
	  Bad Partition Table
The hard disk does not have a DOS partition, or the partition 
table is invalid. Use FDISK to set up a new DOS partition and 
then retry FORMAT.
	  Cannot find system files
The hidden files IBMBIO.COM and IBMDOS.COM could not be located 
on the hard disk. Change to a drive that contains the system 
files and try again.
	  Cannot FORMAT a Network drive
You cannot use the FORMAT command to format a network drive or a 
drive on a computer that is being shared on a network. If your 
computer is being shared, have the server pause and then issue 
the FORMAT command.
	  Cannot format an ASSIGNed or SUBSTed drive
You cannot format a drive after an ASSIGN or SUBST command has 
been used to reassign its designation. Issue the ASSIGN command 
to restore the original drive assignments; then reissue the 
FORMAT command.
	  Disk not compatible
The drive you specified is not supported by the IBM device 
interfaces required by the FORMAT command. Use a different disk 
drive.
	  Disk unsuitable for system disk
There is a defective track in the area that contains the DOS 
files. Use this disk only for data; use a different disk to 
contain DOS files.
	  Drive letter must be specified
Reissue the command with the drive letter of the disk to be 
formatted.
	  Error reading partition table
A hardware error probably occurred. Reissue the FORMAT command.
	  Error writing partition table
A hardware error probably occurred. Reissue the FORMAT command.
	  Format failure
The disk is unusable. Reissue the FORMAT command using another 
disk.
	  Format not supported on drive n:
The disk device driver cannot handle certain calls. If you have 
replaced the default disk device driver, remove it from your 
CONFIG.SYS file and try again. If not, reinstall DOS on your boot 
disk and try the FORMAT command again.
	  Invalid characters in volume label
You have used characters that are not valid. Retry, using valid 
characters. 
	  Invalid device parameters from device driver
The number of hidden sectors is not a multiple of the number of 
sectors per track. Set up a new DOS partition by using FDISK; 
then reissue the FORMAT command.
	  Invalid media or track 0 bad - disk unusable
Either track 0 is bad, in which case the disk is unusable, or the 
disk and the drive are incompatible. Check the disk and drive; if 
they are incompatible types, reissue FORMAT with the /4 option. 
If they are compatible, use a new disk.
	  Parameter not compatible with fixed disk
You used the /1 or /8 options, neither of which can be used with 
a hard disk. Reissue the command with the correct options.
	  Unable to write BOOT
The first track of the disk or the DOS partition is bad; the disk 
is unusable. Get a different disk and try again.
    UNDO
     If you format a disk that contained files you wish to 
retain, you can use the Mace Utilities UnFORMAT command to 
restore them, unless you are using a version of Compaq MS-DOS,  
AT&T MS-DOS prior to version 3.1, or Burroughs MS-DOS.
    NOTE
     No data can be stored on an unformatted disk. When a disk is 
formatted, any data on it is erased. Version 2.0+ works with a 
hard disk, formats nine sectors per track, and accepts a volume 
label. Version 1.0 does not work with a hard disk. To avoid 
inadvertently formatting a hard disk, thus erasing any and all 
data on it, you can rename the FORMAT command and create a batch 
file that gives you warning prompts when you use this command.
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		  [For related topics, press R]
    SEE ALSO
          ASSIGN Command
          BACKUP Command
          CHKDSK Command
          DIR Command
          DISKCOPY Command
          JOIN Command
          LABEL Command
	  RENAME EN) Command
          SELECT Command
          SYS Command
          VER Command


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