|
FORMAT.COM HIDDEN PARAMETERS
FORMAT.COM is an external MS-DOS command, located by default in %winbootdir%\COMMAND (default is C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND) [Windows 95/98/ME, a.k.a. MS-DOS 7.00/7.10/8.00] or in the MS-DOS 6.xx directory (default is C:\DOS or C:\MSDOS) [MS-DOS 6.00 - 6.22].
IMPORTANT: To become familiar with the FORMAT.COM command line switches (the documented ones anyway), run one of these commands from any DOS prompt:
FORMAT /?
or:
HELP FORMAT
to display the FORMAT.COM help screen.
NOTE: FORMAT drive: /Q (documented switch) performs a QUICK format ONLY IF the respective drive/partition is already formatted.
- FORMAT /AUTOTEST [MS-DOS 5.00 and above ONLY]
FORMAT /AUTOTEST checks for the existing format of your disk, unless the /U (UNCONDITIONAL) parameter is also used, and then proceeds with an UNATTENDED DISK(ETTE) FORMAT:
- DOES NOT prompt for a volume label!
- DOES NOT prompt to format another disk(ette)!
- NO delay: NO user intervention!
- Ends WITHOUT pausing!
After completion, it DOES display disk space statistics, ONLY IF using MS-DOS 5.00/6.xx.
WARNING: This works on BOTH hard and floppy drives!
- FORMAT drive: /BACKUP [MS-DOS 5.00 and above ONLY]
FORMAT drive: /BACKUP works exactly like /AUTOTEST, applies ONLY to floppy diskettes, but it DOES prompt the user for a volume label, and it DOES display disk space information upon completion.
- FORMAT drive: /SELECT [MS-DOS 5.00 and above ONLY]
FORMAT drive: /SELECT is similar to using the MIRROR command [a MS-DOS 5.00 and earlier ONLY utility, removed from all MS-DOS releases beginning with 6.00], and reads the disk(ette) system area (sector 0).
In MS-DOS 4.0 FORMAT /SELECT has the same effect as FORMAT /BACKUP.
[Thank you William!]
- FORMAT drive: /U [MS-DOS 5.00 and above ONLY]
FORMAT drive: /U performs an UNCONDITIONAL format, which DESTROYS every byte of data on ANY hard disk/floppy by overwriting it with zeroes (hex F6h).
WARNING: ANY disk(ette) formatted using /U canNOT be UNFORMATTED!
- FORMAT drive: /SELECT /U [MS-DOS 5.00 and above ONLY]
FORMAT drive: /SELECT /U makes a disk(ette) UNREADABLE by filling the system area (sector 0) with zeroes (hex F6h), due to using these two incompatible options together. All other sectors are left intact.
[Thank you William!]
WARNING: NEVER use these two FORMAT switches TOGETHER on ANY drive!
- FORMAT drive: /Z:n [Windows 95B OSR 2.0 + MS-DOS 7.10 and above ONLY]
FORMAT drive: /Z:n formats a FAT32 drive with a cluster size of n times 512 Bytes.
Meaning:
drive: = your hard drive letter: C:, D:, E:... etc.
n = number of sectors per cluster multiplied by 512 (cluster size in Bytes).
Examples:
n = 1 creates a 512 Bytes cluster;
n = 2 creates a 1024 Bytes (1 KB) cluster;
n = ? creates a ? x 512 = ???? Bytes (???? Bytes : 1024 = ? KB) cluster.
You can modify the size of the allocation units (sectors) on a FAT32 drive to your heart desire.
WARNING: It is NOT recommended to change the default cluster size, because some programs such as disk-repair/anti-virus tools may STOP working properly!
BACK 2 CONTENTS
|
