Do you need to format an old floppy disk? Both Windows and Mac have tools to do this. You can also use the Windows Command Prompt for more functionality. By formatting a floppy disk, all data on it is erased. So make sure you have a backup copy.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use Windows Explorer
Step 1. Insert the floppy disk
Make sure you have inserted the floppy disk you want to format before going to find it on your computer. Also make sure you insert the floppy disk the right way round.
- Before inserting the floppy disk make sure the write protect hole is closed.
- Formatting a floppy disk all the information contained in it will be deleted; so make sure you have a backup copy.
Step 2. Open the window named Computer / My Computer / This PC
The title of the window in question changes depending on the version of Windows you are using. In Windows XP it is called "My Computer" and can be opened from the Start menu. In Windows Vista and Windows 7 the window is simply called "Computer" and, again, it can be opened from the Start menu. In Windows 8 the window is called "This PC" and can be opened from the toolbar.
All Windows users, regardless of the version used, can open this window by pressing ⊞ Win + E
Step 3. Right click on the disk
You should see the disk in the device list. It should be represented by a floppy disk icon, although not all versions of Windows use the same image. Floppy disks are usually marked with the letters B: or A:.
Step 4. Select "Format" and choose the settings
A special window will open. You can use this window to choose the formatting settings.
- Capacity: in most cases the correct value is 3.5 ", 1.44 MB.
- File system: The best option is FAT, unless you have special needs. FAT is supported on Windows, Mac and Linux.
- Allocation unit size: also leave the value of this option unchanged.
- Volume Label: Choose a name by which to identify the disc when it is inserted into your computer. Choose a name that has a maximum of 16 characters.
- Format Options: You can choose "Quick Format" to format the disk quickly, but in this case the data is not securely deleted. The time gain in formatting a floppy disk is minimal, so this option is probably best avoided. You can also choose to create an MS-DOS startup disk, which is useful for troubleshooting old computers, but in this case you won't be able to use the disk to store any more data.
Step 5. Start formatting
Once you have chosen the desired options, click on Start to begin the formatting process. Click OK to confirm. The status of the operation is indicated by the bar at the bottom of the window.
Method 2 of 3: Use the Command Prompt (Windows)
Step 1. Open Command Prompt
You can access the Command Prompt from the Start menu or by pressing ⊞ Win + R and typing cmd.
Step 2. Insert the disc
Make sure you insert the floppy disk the right way round.
- Before inserting the floppy disk make sure the write protect hole is closed.
- Formatting a floppy disk all the information contained in it will be deleted; so make sure you have a backup copy.
Step 3. Do a simple format
To format the disk quickly type format X:. Replace X} with the corresponding drive letter. Press Y to confirm the operation.
Step 4. Add options to alter the formatting process
There are several options you can add at the end of the format command to alter the formatting process. For example, if you want to quickly format disk A: you can type format / q a:.
- / fs: filesystem - replace filesystem with FAT, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, or UDF depending on your needs.
- / v: label - replace label with the name you want to give the disc. For compatibility reasons make sure that the name has a maximum of 16 characters.
- / q - perform a quick format.
- / c - added files will be compressed automatically (only with NTFS)
- / p: # - overwrites the floppy disk with zeroes on the first pass and random numbers on the following passes. Replace # with the number of steps you want to take. This option is especially useful for securely erasing sensitive data (Windows Vista and later versions only).
Method 3 of 3: Using OS X
Step 1. Insert the floppy disk
Make sure you have inserted the floppy disk you want to format before going to find it on your computer. Also make sure you insert the floppy disk the right way round.
- Before inserting the floppy disk make sure the write protect hole is closed.
- Formatting a floppy disk all the information contained in it will be deleted; so make sure you have a backup copy.
Step 2. Open the Disk Tools program
You can access this program by going to the Go menu, selecting Tools and choosing Tools Discs.
Step 3. Select the floppy disk
The disc will appear in the left panel of the Disc Tools window.
Step 4. Click on the "Delete" tab
This tab is located in the right panel of the Disc Tools window.
Step 5. Select the options
In the drop-down menu called "Format Disk" choose "Mac OS Standard" if you plan to use the disk only with other Macs. If you want to use the disk also with other operating systems, select "FAT".
You can choose the label to assign to the disc by simply typing it in the "Name" field
Step 6. Start formatting
Click Delete it… to start the formatting process. You can check the status of the operation via the appropriate bar in the Disk Tools window.
Advice
- Avoid removing or inserting a floppy disk when the drive is active (light on) to avoid damaging the floppy disk or the drive itself.
- Most floppy disks have 1.38MB instead of 1.44MB.
