How to Format a Hard Drive in DOS

Techwalla may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Format a hard drive in DOS.

Formatting a hard drive in DOS removes all data and restores the disk to its original factory state. It is important to make sure everything on the hard drive is copied to an external drive or storage device before formatting is done. Once a hard drive is formatted, all information is erased. After hard drive formatting is completed, the operating system is no longer available because formatting removes all software and is not reversible. Before you begin, make sure you are ready to start over again and that this is what you want to do.

Advertisement

Step 1

Copy all of your hard drive's important data to an external storage device.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Click “Start,” “Accessories” and “Command Prompt” to enter the DOS prompt environment.

Advertisement

Step 3

Enter the format command at the DOS command prompt. To format the C: drive using quick formatting, for example, type the following:

FORMAT C: /Q

Advertisement

If your hard drive is not drive C:, replace "C:" with the appropriate letter or your hard drive.

Advertisement

Step 4

Press the “Enter” key and the drive is formatted section by section. When the formatting is complete, the drive is ready to be used again.

Video of the Day

Advertisement

Advertisement

references & resources