Formatting a Disk in Windows

When you buy a floppy disk, it will generally be in one of three states:

  1. Unformatted
  2. Formatted for a Macintosh Computer
  3. Formatted for a PC

Although most Macintosh Computers can read PC disks, most Windows/PC computers cannot read Macintosh disks. Therefore, you must format any unformatted or Macintosh formatted disks to use them on your Windows computer.

Warning: Formatting a disk erases everything that is on it. If a disk is formatted for a Macintosh, and you format it for Windows, you will lose any Macintosh files that were on the disk. Only format a disk if you are sure that there are no files on the disk that you might want. If you think that the disk you have might be a Macintosh disk, you might have to put it into a Macintosh to see if there are any files you want.

There are many ways to format a disk. In Windows, the easiest way to format a disk is to try to use it:

  1. Put the disk into the floppy drive.
  2. Double-click on the MyComputer icon (probably in the upper left corner of your desktop).
  3. Locate the icon for the A: drive (probably labeled 3 1/2 Floppy).
  4. Double-click on the A: drive icon.
  5. If a window opens up showing files (or an empty window opens up because there are no files), the disk is already formatted for a PC, and you don't have to do anything.
  6. Otherwise a message will appear saying "The disk in drive A is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?" (Note that on some Windows systems, you will not be asked if you want to format the disk; you will simply be told that the disk cannot be read. In this case, right click on the A: drive icon and choose Format Disk from the pop-up menu.)
  7. Click on the button labeled "No" to say that you do not want to format it. I always try to open the disk a second time because occasionally, the computer will not recognize a disk even though it is formatted, and a second try will usually open it up.
  8. Repeat steps 4 - 6.
  9. This time, click on the button labeled "Yes" to say that you do want to format it.
  10. The Format Dialog will appear. You need to choose a capacity and a format type.
  11. For capacity, you probably want 1.44Mb (3.5") because almost all disks are now High Density disks. If you have a Double Density Disk, choose 720Kb (3.5").
  12. For format type, click on Full.
  13. Click the Start button.
  14. The computer will whiz and whir for a minute or two. When it is done, your disk will be formatted.

If you have a disk that is already formatted for a PC, and you want to format it anyway, follow steps 1 - 3 above. Then point the mouse to the A: drive icon and click the right mouse button. Select "Format" from the pop-up menu, and follow steps 10-14 above.

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This page was prepared by Dr. David M. Marcovitz.

Last Updated: September 12, 2001