"Windows was unable to complete the format" error message when you try to format an MO disk with the FAT file system in Windows 2000 (889718)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Windows 2000, when you try to format a magneto-optic (MO) disk with the FAT file system, you may receive the following error message:
Windows was unable to complete the format.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because Windows cannot read the FAT partition table. The problem may occur when the following conditions are true:
  • The MO disk is already formatted with the FAT file system.
  • The file system on the MO disk uses 2048 bytes per sector.
  • A non-Microsoft operating system was used to format the MO disk.
This problem does not occur if MS-DOS or the Windows operating system was used to format the MO disk.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, format the MO disk with the NTFS file system. Then, reformat the MO disk with the FAT file system.

MORE INFORMATION

This problem may occur with the following sizes of MO media:
  • 640 megabytes (MB)
  • 1.3 gigabytes (GB)
  • 2.3 gigabytes (GB)
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:1/21/2005
Keywords:kbwinservsetup kbtshoot kbprb KB889718 kbAudITPRO kbAudEndUser
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