So you want to start all over with a Nice Clean Hard Drive and FORMAT it!
Well put your floppy in that has the FORMAT.COM program on it get to the A:\> prompt and type in FORMAT C:
Thats all there is to it.
OH! then you get errors, cannot format, out-of-memory, doesn't recognize the disk, wrong DOS version.....Now what do you do? Well, it isn't that simple.
FORMATTING ERASES ALL DATA1
It can be scary but really is simple if your prepared for the worse. But before we look at how to format it, lets look at what happens when you do and how does the computer know you did and how does it ALWAYS assign C as the drive letter.
Formatting a hard drive does not Completely erase all data as one may think. It only erases the file structure information. This means that your deleted data can be recovered by anyone possessing the right tools, until it is over written. The only way to erase your hard drive is to overwrite it. If you intend to get rid of the drive and want to make obsolutly sure that your data cannot be recovered by someone, then there are a couple of options. There are many commercial programs available and a DOS utility called DEBUG that will do this job. So we will assume that you just want to re-format the drive or format it for your own use.
How does the operating system assign letters to drives?
Microsoft MS-DOS assigns drive letters to the first two physical floppy disk drives and hard disk drives it finds at boot time in a fixed sequence, including multiple partitions and logical drives on the hard disks. You cannot change this sequence. The drive letters assigned to additional drives installed using DRIVER.SYS and other installable device drivers is dependent upon the order in which the drivers are loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file. These drive letter assignments can be influenced by changing the order of the CONFIG.SYS statements or loading "dummy" drives to "use up" drive letters.
Drive letter assignments can change when you upgrade from one Microsoft MS-DOS version to another or from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) version of MS-DOS to another version that assigns drive letters differently. (The order in which drive letters are assigned was modified by OEMs in earlier versions of MS-DOS.) The following applies to MS-DOS 5.0 and later and not OEM MS-DOS versions..
The following events occur at startup:
1. MS-DOS checks all installed disk devices, assigning the drive letter A to the first physical floppy disk drive that is found.
2. If a second physical floppy disk drive is present, it is assigned drive letter B. If it is not present, a logical drive B is created that uses the first physical floppy disk drive.
3. Regardless of whether a second floppy disk drive is present, MS-DOS then assigns the drive letter C to the primary MS-DOS partition on the first physical hard disk, and then goes on to check for a second hard disk.
4. If a second physical hard disk is found, and a primary partition exists on the second physical drive, the primary MS-DOS partition on the second physical hard drive is assigned the letter D. MS-DOS version 5.0 and later, supports up to eight physical drives, will continue to search for more physical hard disk drives at this point. For example, if a third physical hard disk is found, and a primary partition exists on the third physical drive, the primary MS-DOS partition on the third physical hard drive is assigned the letter E.
5. MS-DOS returns to the first physical hard disk drive and assigns drive letters to any additional logical drives (in extended MS-DOS partitions) on that drive in sequence.
6. MS-DOS repeats this process for the second physical hard disk drive, if present. MS-DOS will repeat this process for up to eight physical hard drives, if present. After all logical drives (in extended MS-DOS partitions) have been assigned drive letters, MS-DOS 5, returns to the first physical drive and assigns drive letters to any other primary MS-DOS partitions that exist, then searches other physical drives for additional primary MS-DOS partitions. This support for multiple primary MS-DOS partitions was added to version 5.0 for backward compatibility with the previous OEM MS-DOS versions that support multiple primary partitions.
7. After all logical drives on the hard disk(s) have been assigned drive letters, drive letters are assigned to drives installed using DRIVER.SYS or created using RAMDRIVE.SYS in the order in which the drivers are loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file. Which drive letters are assigned to which devices can be influenced by changing the order of the device drivers or, if necessary, by creating "dummy" drive letters with DRIVER.SYS.
8. The MS-DOS utility SUBST, networks and programs such as the CD-ROM Extensions which use the MS-DOS network interface can request a specific drive letter be assigned to a block device.
Obviously the process of preparing a hard drive is quite extensive. That used for floppy disks is similar, except that floppy disks are low-level formatted and high level formatted in one step. This explains the quick format option for floppies that can be found in Windows 9x. The quick format simply uses an erase process that alters the information in the FAT. It does not rewrite all the sector information to the disk. This speeds up the format process considerably.
The final step in preparing a hard drive for use is the high level format using the operating systems format command. The primary function of this program is to set up the directory system for the drive. During the first scan of the hard drive, the format program looks for bad sectors, especially those marked by the low-level format. Any that are found are identified in the FAT or file allocation table. This prevents the operating system from attempting to write data to these areas. The high level format writes boot sector information to the first sector of the drive. If the "/s" command was specified, it will also write the boot files to this location. In the second sector it will write the first FAT and immediately after this the second FAT. These FATs are essentially empty except for any bad sector information that has been collected. The format program will also write a blank root directory. This format process does not alter the sector identification or write to any other data areas.
Because of the variable nature of the sector/track relationship and several other mechanical factors, manufacturers generally do not recommend that hard drives be low level formatted except at the factory. Any such formatting may reduce the drives' storage capacity and data transfer rates. The newest drives, using zoned bit recording, cannot be low level formatted after they leave the factory unless the software used sends the proper codes to unlock the formatting routine. So it is important that drives be low-level formatted only with software supplied by the manufacturer. Even then there may be a reduction in drive efficiency and/or rate of data transmission.
A low-level format cannot be done with the FORMAT command. It is recommended you get a low-level format program from the manufacturer of your drive. These programs are tailored to work with specific drives and can sufficiently trace the defects and map them. Visit the Web site of the manufacturer to find these programs; they are often available for download.
If you want to use one of the major manufactures disk utilities you can download them here:
Prior to Formatting you need to understand the different commands that can be utilized, although 95% of the time you just use format c:/s, there are alternatives, depending on your experience and reasons. FORMAT.COM is the program that is used to Format a Hard Drive (unless you are using a manufacturs utility program). Lets look at some of the major switches that can be used with the FORMAT.COM program:
FORMAT /AUTOTEST [MS-DOS 5.00 and above ONLY]
This parameter makes FORMAT.COM check for the existing format of your disk, unless the /U (Unconditional) parameter is also used [MS-DOS 5.00 and above ONLY], and then proceeds with an UNATTENDED DISK(ETTE) FORMAT:
After completion, it DOES display disk space statistics. WARNING: This works on BOTH hard and floppy drives!
FORMAT drive: /BACKUP [MS-DOS 5.00 and above ONLY]
This FORMAT.COM parameter works exactly like /AUTOTEST, 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]
This FORMAT.COM parameter is similar to using the MIRROR command [a MS-DOS 5.00 and earlier ONLY utility], and reads the disk(ette) system area (sector 0). In MS-DOS 4.0 FORMAT /SELECT has the same effect as FORMAT /BACKUP. NOTE: Microsoft removed MIRROR.COM from all MS-DOS releases begining with 6.00.
FORMAT drive: /U [MS-DOS 5.00 and above ONLY]
This FORMAT.COM parameter performs an UNCONDITIONAL format, which DESTROYS every byte of data on ANY hard disk/floppy by overwriting it with hex F6h. WARNING: You canNOT UNFORMAT a disk(ette) formatted using the /U option!
FORMAT drive: /SELECT /U [MS-DOS 5.00 and above ONLY]
This particular combination of FORMAT.COM parameters makes a disk(ette) UNREADABLE by filling the system area (sector 0) with zeroes, due to using these two incompatible options together. All other sectors are left intact. WARNING: DO NOT 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 recommended NOT to change the default cluster size, because
some programs such as disk-repair/anti-virus tools might STOP
working properly!
READY?
We will assume that the drive already has a partition on it and is ready to FORMAT. WARNING! WARNING! Format will wipe the drive clean and you will LOSE ALL DATA. So make sure you have the original cd's/floppies for your programs, and have backed up you files to a floppy or another hard drive.
1. Restart your computer with the Startup/Bootdisk in the floppy disk drive.
NOTE: If you are using a Windows 95 Startup disk, a command prompt is displayed and you can skip to step 2. If you are using a Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows Me Startup disk, select the Start computer without CD-ROM support menu option when the Windows 98 Startup menu is displayed.
2. When a command prompt is displayed, type format c: /s, and then press ENTER. This command transfers the system files and should only be used when you format drive C (or your "active" drive). For all other partitions, type format drive: (where drive is the letter of the partition that you want to format).
NOTE: If you receive a "Bad command" or "Bad file name" error message, you may not have the Format.com program on the floppy. You can extract the Format.com tool to your boot disk (assumming you have DOS or Windows already on the hard drive.. To do this, type the following command at a command prompt, and then press ENTER:
extract ebd.cab format.com
After the Format.com tool is extracted to your boot disk, type format c: /s at the command prompt to format your active partition, or type format drive: if you want to format a partition that is not your active partition.
1. When you successfully run the Format.com tool, you receive the following message:
WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST!
Proceed with Format?
2. Press Y, and then press ENTER to format drive C.
3. After the format procedure is finished, you receive the following message:
Volume label (11 characters, ENTER for none)?
NOTE: This is an optional feature that you can use to type a name for the drive. I generally just use HARD DRIVE. You can either type an 11-character name for the drive, or you can leave it blank by pressing ENTER.
Congratulations!
YOUR DONE, YOUR DRIVE IS NOW FORMATTED AND READY TO RECEIVE DATA
To make sure you can access the drive type C: (hit <enter> key) and you should be at C:\> prompt.
If you want to format additional partitions, logical etc., slave drives, here is an excellant article:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q255/8/67.ASP#3
Hard Drive Format Error
Insufficient memory error when formatting hard drive
This can be caused by one of the following reasons:
1. Hard disk drive has no room to place system files or to backup data on hard disk drive incase the drive needs to be unformatted. This issue is most commonly caused because the hard disk drive has no capacity to place information on the hard disk drive incase it needs to be unformatted.
To fix it: Run an unconditional format on the hard disk drive by typing the following at the MS-DOS prompt. format c: /u <press enter>
2. Master boot record is corrupted.
If when running an unconditional format you experience the same issue it is possible that the master boot record may be corrupted. To fix it: type the following at the MS-DOS prompt.
fdisk/mbr <press enter>
format c: /u <press enter>
3. Partitions are corrupted or missing.
If you continue to experience the same issues after attempting the above two suggestions it is recommended that you fdisk, delete the partitions and recreate the partitions then type at the MS-DOS prompt.
fdisk /mbr <press enter>
format c: /u <press enter>
4. Hard disk drive is bad.
Unfortunately if none of the above recommendations resolve your issue it is likely that the hard disk drive is bad and it is recommended that it be replaced.
Great program that will do all of the above for you.
Disclaimer: I will not be held responsible for any damage to a drive using the above process. If you follow the process you should not encounter any problems.
