The graphical interfaces in the operating systems represented a before and after in the massification of personal computers. Until then, the use of a computer was tied to the use of commands from a screen very similar to the one we have when we open the Command Prompt. Basically, this is the back room of the system, so when we create a folder, for example, we're actually running a series of commands for it. In this sense, today we want to talk about the Format command in the Windows CMD, a very useful option, but one that we must treat with a silk glove.
Formatting storage devices is an activity that we carry out frequently and it is worth knowing how to achieve it with Command Prompt commands. If you're having trouble formatting a drive from the Windows interface, this option might help.
What is the Format command in Windows CMD?
As Windows users, we are quite used to formatting activity. This is nothing more than provisioning or preparing a storage unit so that it begins to receive information such as files or operating systems. To achieve this, we are used to going to the Team section and using the Format option from the context menu. However, when this method fails, we can always resort to the Command Prompt to even force the process.
In this sense, the Format command is available in the Windows CMD to carry out this task, with additional options that we can customize, such as the volume label and also the size of the clusters.. In this way, it will be enough to open a Command Prompt with administrator privileges to use this command on any disk or storage unit that we need to prepare. Likewise, if what you are looking for is simply to erase the contents of any drive, you can also do it with the Format command.
Considering the above, it is necessary to treat this command with great care, since any error could represent the deletion of all the information on a disk.. For this reason, its use deserves the greatest caution regarding the label of the volume that we are formatting and its entry together with the command.
How to use the Format command?
To format any drive from Command Prompt with the Format command, follow the steps below:
- Take note of the label of the drive you are going to format. To do this, go to Team and look at it from there.
- Click on the Start menu and writes DCM.
- Select the option »Execute as an administrator", this will allow you to have privileges to execute any action.
- Enter the command next to the label of the volume to format. For example, if the label is D, the command would be: Format D:
- Confirm the action when prompted by the system.
In this way, all the information contained in drive D will be deleted. However, this command also has additional options with which we can complement and customize the results. In this sense, we have the possibility of defining the file system to apply and the name of the unit. To do this we must enter the command as follows:
Format D: /FS:NTFS /V:New_Drive
Next, press the Enter key and confirm the action to start the format process, where the file system will also be applied NTFS and the unit will be identified as New_Unit.
Precautions in Using the Format Command
Earlier, we commented that the Format command in the Windows CMD must be treated with great care, since an error carries significant risks. In that sense, Our fundamental recommendation to avoid any inconvenience is to be clear about the letter that identifies the volume on which we are going to work. This will get rid of any failure related to formatting the disk or the wrong drive.
It is worth noting that, from the Windows CMD we can also use the Diskpart command in order to obtain the information related to the drive letter and other data that you need about the disks. However, we must also mention the fact that if you have an error using the Format command, all is not lost, because there is the possibility of recovering all or a good part of the information. This is thanks to the fact that, currently, there are various programs aimed at bringing back the data deleted from the disks.
The Format command in Windows is a tool that, when used with the correct caution, can become an excellent ally for technicians and users. Any storage drive that resists being formatted from the graphical interface, you will have to give in using Format in the Command Prompt. It's all a matter of getting practice with the command syntax and the rest will be a piece of cake.