Formatting Disks

Formatting sets up a disk so that information can be saved on to it. Both floppy and hard disks can be formatted. Formatting a disk with data on it removes the reference section on the disk that says where the information is stored on the disk. New information can then be stored over the old information on the disk. Most disks today come already formatted. You can format disks using Windows Explorer.

• Place the floppy disk in the floppy disk drive.

• Click right on the name of the floppy disk drive (usually 31/2 Floppy (A:) ) in the Folders pane. The following shortcut menu will appear.
  

• Click on the option Format. The dialog box shown below will appear.
  

• The capacity of most disks today is 1.44 Mb.

• Click on the ? button at the top right of the dialog box. Move the mouse over the body of the box and notice that the mouse pointer now has a question mark next to it.

• Click on the Quick (erase) option for format type. A yellow box will appear, telling you what this option does.

• Repeat for the Fulloption and the Copy system files only option.

• Select the Full format type.

• Click on Start.

• A grey bar at the bottom of the dialog box will fill up with blue squares as the formatting proceeds.
  

• When the formatting is finished, a summary box will appear on your screen.
  

• Usually you would write the serial number on the label of the floppy disk. The computer uses this number to identify the floppy disk.

• Click on Close to exit the summary box.

• Click on close to exit the Format dialog box.

• You will be back in the Windows Explorer window. Click on the name 31/2 Floppy (A:). The Files pane should be blank, as shown below.