Commands · Command
CommandWindows
format
format drive: [/fs:filesystem] [/q]Formats a drive or partition with a specified filesystem, erasing its existing contents.
// FLAGS
/fsfilesystem to use, e.g. NTFS, FAT32, exFAT/qquick format — skips the full bad-sector scan/vassign a volume label// EXAMPLE
format D: /fs:NTFS /q — quick-formats the D: drive as NTFS.
// GOTCHA
A quick format (/q) only clears the filesystem's index structures, not the actual data — the old data is still recoverable with forensic tools until overwritten, which matters when decommissioning a drive.
// RELATED COMMANDS