Help for the FreeDOS FORMAT command:


Simplified syntax (only standard options):

FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/U] [/F:size] [/S] [/D]
FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/U] [/T:tracks /N:sectors] [/S] [/D]
FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/U] [/4] [/S] [/D]
 
 /V:label   Specifies a volume label for the disk, stores date and time of it.
 /S         Calls SYS to make the disk bootable and to add system files.
 /D         Be very verbose and show debugging output. For bug reports.
 /Q         Quick formats the disk. If not combined with /U, can be UNFORMATed.
 /U         Unconditionally formats the disk. Lowlevel format if floppy disk.
 /F:size    Specifies the size of the floppy disk to format. Normal sizes are:
            360, 720, 1200, 1440, or 2880 (unit: kiloBytes). /F:0 shows a list.
 /4         Formats a 360k floppy disk in a 1.2 MB floppy drive.
 /T:tracks  Specifies the number of tracks on a floppy disk.
 /N:sectors Specifies the number of sectors on a floppy disk.


Full syntax (including "old compatible" options):

FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/U] [/F:size] [/B | /S]
FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/U] [/T:tracks /N:sectors] [/B | /S]
FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/U] [/1] [/4] [/B | /S]
FORMAT drive: [/Q] [/U] [/1] [/4] [/8] [/B | /S]

 /V:label   Specifies a volume label for the disk.
 /Q         Quick formats the disk.  The disk can be UNFORMATed.
 /U         Unconditionally formats the disk.  The disk cannot be UNFORMATted
 /F:size    Specifies the size of the floppy disk to format.  Valid sizes are:
              160, 180, 320, 360, 720, 1200, 1440, or 2880.
 /B         Kept for compatibility, formally reserved space for the boot files.
 /S         Copies the operating system files to make the disk bootable.
 /T:tracks  Specifies the number of tracks on a floppy disk.
 /N:sectors Specifies the number of sectors on a floppy disk.
 /1         Formats a single side of a floppy disk.
 /4         Formats a 360K floppy disk in a 1.2 MB floppy drive.
 /8         Formats a 5.25" disk with 8 sectors per track.
 /D         Be very verbose and show debugging output. For bug reports.
