TIP: Click on subject to list as thread! ANSI
echo: nthelp
to: Geo.
from: mark lewis
date: 2003-04-14 23:23:44
subject: Undocumented Format Switch

i've used format /u for a long time... at least since they came out with
the version that saves unformating information... why? the u meant
"unconditional, don't save any unformat info"... undocumented?
been there since DOS v6.xx at least...

 G> From: "Geo." 

 G> cool, that is useful. I added a note on my website about that
 G> one so I don't lose it.

 G> Geo.

 G> "Chris Robinson"  wrote in
 G> message news:3E9AA49B.78ED7B90{at}NOSPAMtotalise.co.uk...
>> I hadn't heard of this one before so I thought I'd share it with you.  A
>> while back I was looking for DOS utilities that would completely wipe a
>> hard drive.  I found some useful ones (usually from the manufactureres
>> of the drive).  Today I found this tip in an issue of "Computing":
>>
>>     Use the undocumented "U" switch when formatting a
drive.  It's a
>> switch that tells Format to rewrite sectors irrespective of what's in
>> them.  e.g. "FORMAT C: /U" will rewrite all the sectors
irrespective of
>> what's in them.
>>
>> Pretty useful I thought, although it did remind me of the annoying
>> amount of "undocumented" switches - why are they
undocumented?  "hey,
>> our software can do this task but we're not going to tell you about it"
>>
>> Chris.
>>

 G> --- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-4
 G> (1:379/1.45)

G> * Origin: Barktopia BBS Site http://HarborWebs.com:8081
* Origin: (1:3634/12)
SEEN-BY: 633/267 270
@PATH: 3634/12 106/2000 1 379/1 633/267

SOURCE: echomail via fidonet.ozzmosis.com

Email questions or comments to sysop@ipingthereforeiam.com
All parts of this website painstakingly hand-crafted in the U.S.A.!
IPTIA BBS/MUD/Terminal/Game Server List, © 2025 IPTIA Consulting™.