The FORMAT command initializes a disk in a format compatible with DOS.
The disk allocation blocks are written and all unusable areas of the disk
are marked so DOS will not try to write files to those areas.  The command
format is as follows:

         FORMAT [d:][/S][/V][/B][/1][/8]

All diskettes must be formatted by the FORMAT or DISKCOPY commands before
they can be used by DOS.  Fixed disks must be formatted with the FORMAT command
before use and after changing a DOS partition size through the FDISK command
(just changing from one partition to another does not require reformatting!).

WARNING **  Formatting destroys ALL information contained on the disk.  All
DOS partitions on a fixed disk will be reformatted if performed on this disk.
DO NOT EVER enter the command without the drive letter specified (IBM should
have made the drive specifier mandatory), because the default disk will be
assumed!

The following options may be specified:

/S  - Make the formatted disk a system disk.  The hidden files IBMBIO.COM and
      IBMDOS.COM are written to the disk.  COMMAND.COM is also transferred.
      This makes it possible to boot (startup) the system with this diskette.
/V  - This allows you to specify a 1 to 11 character volume label that will
      be written to the disk.  This label can be viewed later using the VOL
      command or any time a DIR command is executed (see the help files VOL
      and DIR for details).

/B  - The diskette will be formatted with 8 sectors per track rather than the
      normal 9, and room will be reserved for the two hidden system files
      IBMBIO.COM and IBMDOS.COM (although the files are not actually written).
      This leaves space for the SYS command to write any version of DOS to the
      diskette at a later date, otherwise only DOS 2.00 or later versions could
      be written.

/1  - The diskette is to be formatted for single sided use only rather than the
      double sided default.  This option maintains compatiblity with early
      versions of DOS.  The option cannot be used when formatting a fixed disk.

/8  - The diskette is to be formatted with 8 sectors per track rather than the
      default 9.  This option maintains compatiblity with early versions of
      DOS.  The option cannot be used when formatting a fixed disk.




NOTES **
*  The options /8 and /V cannot be used together since they would make
   the diskette unusable by DOS 1.10.  Likewise, the /V and /S options cannot
   be combined with the /B option.

*  Formatting a diskette may take a minute or two before you are prompted for
   the disk volume.  Don't panic (as long as the disk activity light is on).

*  If there is a disk assignment present you will probably have to return all
   the disk drives to their defaults with the ASSIGN command before the FORMAT
   command will execute without displaying an error message (see the help file
   ASSIGN for details).
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