FORMAT Command Formats Current Drive in MS-DOS 1.x, 2.x (84297)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 1.x
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 2.11
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.1
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.2
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.21
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3a
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.0
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.01
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
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.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/12/2003
Keywords:KB84297
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