How to Format a Flash Drive in DOS
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Whether your flash drive is beginning to give you errors or you simply need to delete everything from the drive, the time may come to reformat. DOS allows you to reformat your flash drive easily when you use the right commands.
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Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
Microsoft Windows
Flash drive
1
Plug your flash drive into your computer's USB port.
2
Click "My Computer" on the desktop to find out the letter of the drive you wish to reformat. For a flash drive, it should be removable disk F:, but check to make sure.
3
Navigate to "Start," then "Run."
4
In the Run window, type "cmd," which will bring up your MS-DOS window.
5
In the MS-DOS window, type "Format F:/fs:FAT32." If your drive is designated with another letter, replace F: with that letter. Change FAT32 to NTFS if reformatting a drive larger than 10GB.
6
Hit "Enter" three times, and you will have reformatted your drive.
How to Format a Flash Drive in DOS
Print this article
Whether your flash drive is beginning to give you errors or you simply need to delete everything from the drive, the time may come to reformat. DOS allows you to reformat your flash drive easily when you use the right commands.
Related Searches:
Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
Microsoft Windows
Flash drive
1
Plug your flash drive into your computer's USB port.
2
Click "My Computer" on the desktop to find out the letter of the drive you wish to reformat. For a flash drive, it should be removable disk F:, but check to make sure.
3
Navigate to "Start," then "Run."
4
In the Run window, type "cmd," which will bring up your MS-DOS window.
5
In the MS-DOS window, type "Format F:/fs:FAT32." If your drive is designated with another letter, replace F: with that letter. Change FAT32 to NTFS if reformatting a drive larger than 10GB.
6
Hit "Enter" three times, and you will have reformatted your drive.
Windows keyboard shortcut list
Here are the keyboard shortcuts for the current consumer version of Windows:
General
Get specific help on selected item [F1]
Quit a program [ALT][F4]
Close a window [CTRL][F4]
View the Shortcut menu for selected item [SHIFT][F10]
Display Start menu [CTRL][ESC]
Switch to last window used [ALT][TAB]
Cycle through open applications [ALT][TAB], [ALT][TAB], [ALT][TAB]. . .
Bypass CD or CD-ROM autoplay [SHIFT] while inserting the disc
Select first item on menu bar [F10]
Move through menu headings [LEFT ARROW],[RIGHT ARROW]
Open a menu [DOWN ARROW]
Move through menus [UP ARROW],[DOWN ARROW]
Move to menu where X is underlined [ALT]X
Close current menu selection [ESC]
Cancel current selection on menu bar [ALT] or [F10]
Open application's Control menu [ALT][SPACEBAR]
Open document's Control menu [ALT][-]
Close current document window [CTRL][F4]
Switch to the next document window [CTRL][F6]
Toggle maximized and windowed displays [MOUSE R][MOUSE R] on title bar
Copy a file [MOUSE R] drag the file, [C]
Create a shortcut [CTRL][SHIFT] drag the file
Create a shortcut [MOUSE R] drag an item, [S]
Delete an item Drag to Recycle Bin
Delete an item to Recycle Bin [DEL]
Undo delete [MOUSE R] on desktop, [U]
Delete an item with no undelete [SHIFT][DEL]
Delete an item with no undelete [SHIFT][MOUSE R], [D]
Delete an item with no undelete [SHIFT]drag item to Recycle Bin
Select first menu on menu bar [ALT]
Add Toolbar to any Windows applet or folder [ALT][V], [T]
Move forward through dialog box options [TAB]
Move backward through dialog box options [SHIFT][TAB]
Move between tabs [CTRL][TAB]
Move to an option with the letter X underlined [ALT]X
Open a list box [ALT][DOWN ARROW]
Go to the top of a list box [HOME]
Go to the bottom of a list box [END]
Move to item in list box starting with X X
Select or deselect items in a check box or list box [SPACEBAR]
Select or deselect one item at a time in a list box [SHIFT][UP ARROW]
Select or deselect one item at a time in a list box [SHIFT][DOWN ARROW]
Make noncontiguous selections from list box [CTRL][LEFT ARROW], [MOUSE L]
Open Look In list (Open dialog) [F4]
Open Save In list (Save as dialog) [F4]
Open folder a level up from current folder [BACKSPACE]
Create a new folder [MOUSE R], [W], [F]
Jump to a desktop item Type initial characters
Rename an item [F2]
Find a file or folder [F3]
Cut selected item [CTRL][X]
Copy selected item [CTRL][C]
Paste copied or cut item [CTRL][V]
View an item's Properties [ALT][ENTER]
View an item's Properties [ALT][MOUSE R][MOUSE R]
Create a shortcut [MOUSE R]drag the file, [S]
Close parent folders [SHIFT] click on the Close button
Correct displayed time [MOUSE R] on [ALT][T], [UP ARROW],
[DOWN ARROW][A],[TAB] to adjust, [ALT][A]
Line up icons [MOUSE R], [E]
Turn on (or turn off) icons' autoarrange [MOUSE R], [I], [A]
Minimize all windows [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [M]
Cascade all windows [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [C]
Tile all windows horizontally [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [H]
Tile all windows vertically [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [V]
Undo last Desktop command [MOUSE R], [U]
Change the Desktop's properties [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R]
Change background pattern [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R],
select option, [ALT][A]
Change wallpaper [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [ALT][W],
select option, [ALT][A]
Tile wallpaper [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [ALT]T, [ALT][A]
Center wallpaper [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [ALT]C, [ALT][A]
Change screen saver [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][S]
Password-protect screen saver [MOUSE R] on desktop,
[R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][P]
Change password [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][C]
Change screen saver setup [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][T]
Preview screen saver [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][V]
Change screen saver wait time [MOUSE R]on desktop,
[R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][W]
Taskbar
Hide Taskbar [MOUSE R], [R], [U]
Restore hidden Taskbar [MOUSE R], [R], [U]
Remove clock from Tray [MOUSE R], [R], [C]
Cascade all windows [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [C]
Tile all windows horizontally [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [H]
Tile all windows vertically [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [V]
Undo last Desktop command [MOUSE R], [U]
Reduce size of icons in Start menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R], [S]
Clear contents of Documents menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R],
[CTRL][TAB], [C]
Add item to Start menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R],
[CTRL][TAB], [A], [ALT][B]
Start Menu
Activate Start menu [CTRL][ESC]
Activate Start menu from Desktop [CTRL][ESC]
Activate Start menu from Desktop [ALT][S]
Add item to Start menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R],
[CTRL][TAB], [A], [ALT][B]
Remove items from Start menu [MOUSE R] on Start button, O, P, [ENTER]
Reduce size of icons in Start menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R], [S]
Clear contents of Documents menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R],
[CTRL][TAB], [C]
Bring up Find utility [MOUSE R] on Start button, [F]
Recycle Bin
Empty Recycle Bin [MOUSE R], [B]
Cancel delete confirmation dialog box [MOUSE R], [R], [D]
Reinstate delete confirmation dialog box [MOUSE R], [R], [D]
Cancel undelete option for every deletion [MOUSE R], [R], [R]
Explorer
Open Explorer [MOUSE R] on Start button, [E]
Refresh a window [F5]
Go to a named folder [CTRL][G], enter name
Jump to a folder Type its initial character(s)
Undo [CTRL][Z]
Select all [CTRL][A]
Move one level up [BACKSPACE]
Close selected folder and its parents [SHIFT][L] on Close button
Rename an item [F2]
Find a file or folder [F3]
Cut selected item [CTRL][X]
Copy selected item [CTRL][C]
Paste copied or cut item [CTRL][V]
Delete an item to Recycle Bin [DEL]
Delete an item to Recycle Bin [MOUSE R], [D]
Delete an item with no undelete [SHIFT][DEL] or [SHIFT][MOUSE R], [D]
View an item's Properties [ALT][ENTER]
View an item's Properties [ALT][MOUSE R][MOUSE R]
Copy a file [CTRL] drag the file
Create a shortcut [CTRL][SHIFT] drag the file
Switch between left and right panes [F6]
Expand current folder's subfolders [*] on numeric keypad
Expand the selected folder [+] on numeric keypad
Collapse the selected folder [-] on numeric keypad
Expand current selection [RIGHT ARROW]
Select first subfolder (if expanded) [RIGHT ARROW]
Collapse current selection [LEFT ARROW]
Select parent folder (if collapsed) [LEFT ARROW]
Change icon size to small [ALT][V], [M]
Change icon size to small [MOUSE R], [V], [M]
Change icon size to large [ALT][V], [G]
Change icon size to large [MOUSE R], [V], [G]
Change icon view to a list [ALT][V], [L]
Change icon view to a list [MOUSE R], [V], [L]
Change icon view to a detailed list [ALT]V, [D]
Change icon view to a detailed list [MOUSE R], [V], [D]
Arrange icons in alphabetical order [ALT]V, [I], [N]
Arrange icons in alphabetical order [MOUSE R], [I], [N]
Arrange icons by size [ALT][V], [I], [S]
Arrange icons by size [MOUSE R], [I], [S]
Arrange icons by type [ALT][V], [I], [T]
Arrange icons by type [MOUSE R], [I], [T]
Arrange icons by modification date [ALT][V], [I], [D]
Arrange icons by modification date [MOUSE R], [I], [D]
Line up icons [ALT]V, [I], [E]
Line up icons [MOUSE R], [I], [E]
Add Toolbar to any Windows applet or folder [ALT][V], [T]
Activate the Toolbar's List box [TAB]
Activate the Toolbar's List box [F4]
Folders
Find a file or folder [F3]
Cut selected item [CTRL][X]
Copy selected item [CTRL][C]
Paste copied or cut item [CTRL][V]
Delete an item to Recycle Bin [DEL]
Delete an item to Recycle Bin [MOUSE R], [D]
Undo delete [MOUSE R] on desktop,[U]
Delete an item with no undelete [SHIFT][DEL]
View an item's Properties [ALT][ENTER]
Copy a file [CTRL] drag the file
Create a shortcut [CTRL][SHIFT] drag the file
Fonts
Install a new font [ALT][F], [I]
Hide font variations (bold, italic, etc.) [ALT][V], [H]
List fonts by similarity [ALT][V], [S]
Printers
Pause print job on selected printer [ALT][F], [A]
Pause print job on selected printer [MOUSE R], [A]
Purge print job on selected printer [ALT][F], [U]
Purge print job on selected printer [MOUSE R], [U]
Set default printer [ALT][F], [F]
Set default printer [MOUSE R], [F]
Windows keyboard shortcut list
Here are the keyboard shortcuts for the current consumer version of Windows:
General
Get specific help on selected item [F1]
Quit a program [ALT][F4]
Close a window [CTRL][F4]
View the Shortcut menu for selected item [SHIFT][F10]
Display Start menu [CTRL][ESC]
Switch to last window used [ALT][TAB]
Cycle through open applications [ALT][TAB], [ALT][TAB], [ALT][TAB]. . .
Bypass CD or CD-ROM autoplay [SHIFT] while inserting the disc
Select first item on menu bar [F10]
Move through menu headings [LEFT ARROW],[RIGHT ARROW]
Open a menu [DOWN ARROW]
Move through menus [UP ARROW],[DOWN ARROW]
Move to menu where X is underlined [ALT]X
Close current menu selection [ESC]
Cancel current selection on menu bar [ALT] or [F10]
Open application's Control menu [ALT][SPACEBAR]
Open document's Control menu [ALT][-]
Close current document window [CTRL][F4]
Switch to the next document window [CTRL][F6]
Toggle maximized and windowed displays [MOUSE R][MOUSE R] on title bar
Copy a file [MOUSE R] drag the file, [C]
Create a shortcut [CTRL][SHIFT] drag the file
Create a shortcut [MOUSE R] drag an item, [S]
Delete an item Drag to Recycle Bin
Delete an item to Recycle Bin [DEL]
Undo delete [MOUSE R] on desktop, [U]
Delete an item with no undelete [SHIFT][DEL]
Delete an item with no undelete [SHIFT][MOUSE R], [D]
Delete an item with no undelete [SHIFT]drag item to Recycle Bin
Select first menu on menu bar [ALT]
Add Toolbar to any Windows applet or folder [ALT][V], [T]
Move forward through dialog box options [TAB]
Move backward through dialog box options [SHIFT][TAB]
Move between tabs [CTRL][TAB]
Move to an option with the letter X underlined [ALT]X
Open a list box [ALT][DOWN ARROW]
Go to the top of a list box [HOME]
Go to the bottom of a list box [END]
Move to item in list box starting with X X
Select or deselect items in a check box or list box [SPACEBAR]
Select or deselect one item at a time in a list box [SHIFT][UP ARROW]
Select or deselect one item at a time in a list box [SHIFT][DOWN ARROW]
Make noncontiguous selections from list box [CTRL][LEFT ARROW], [MOUSE L]
Open Look In list (Open dialog) [F4]
Open Save In list (Save as dialog) [F4]
Open folder a level up from current folder [BACKSPACE]
Create a new folder [MOUSE R], [W], [F]
Jump to a desktop item Type initial characters
Rename an item [F2]
Find a file or folder [F3]
Cut selected item [CTRL][X]
Copy selected item [CTRL][C]
Paste copied or cut item [CTRL][V]
View an item's Properties [ALT][ENTER]
View an item's Properties [ALT][MOUSE R][MOUSE R]
Create a shortcut [MOUSE R]drag the file, [S]
Close parent folders [SHIFT] click on the Close button
Correct displayed time [MOUSE R] on [ALT][T], [UP ARROW],
[DOWN ARROW][A],[TAB] to adjust, [ALT][A]
Line up icons [MOUSE R], [E]
Turn on (or turn off) icons' autoarrange [MOUSE R], [I], [A]
Minimize all windows [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [M]
Cascade all windows [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [C]
Tile all windows horizontally [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [H]
Tile all windows vertically [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [V]
Undo last Desktop command [MOUSE R], [U]
Change the Desktop's properties [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R]
Change background pattern [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R],
select option, [ALT][A]
Change wallpaper [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [ALT][W],
select option, [ALT][A]
Tile wallpaper [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [ALT]T, [ALT][A]
Center wallpaper [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [ALT]C, [ALT][A]
Change screen saver [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][S]
Password-protect screen saver [MOUSE R] on desktop,
[R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][P]
Change password [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][C]
Change screen saver setup [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][T]
Preview screen saver [MOUSE R] on desktop, [R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][V]
Change screen saver wait time [MOUSE R]on desktop,
[R], [CTRL][TAB], [ALT][W]
Taskbar
Hide Taskbar [MOUSE R], [R], [U]
Restore hidden Taskbar [MOUSE R], [R], [U]
Remove clock from Tray [MOUSE R], [R], [C]
Cascade all windows [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [C]
Tile all windows horizontally [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [H]
Tile all windows vertically [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [V]
Undo last Desktop command [MOUSE R], [U]
Reduce size of icons in Start menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R], [S]
Clear contents of Documents menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R],
[CTRL][TAB], [C]
Add item to Start menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R],
[CTRL][TAB], [A], [ALT][B]
Start Menu
Activate Start menu [CTRL][ESC]
Activate Start menu from Desktop [CTRL][ESC]
Activate Start menu from Desktop [ALT][S]
Add item to Start menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R],
[CTRL][TAB], [A], [ALT][B]
Remove items from Start menu [MOUSE R] on Start button, O, P, [ENTER]
Reduce size of icons in Start menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R], [S]
Clear contents of Documents menu [MOUSE R] on Taskbar, [R],
[CTRL][TAB], [C]
Bring up Find utility [MOUSE R] on Start button, [F]
Recycle Bin
Empty Recycle Bin [MOUSE R], [B]
Cancel delete confirmation dialog box [MOUSE R], [R], [D]
Reinstate delete confirmation dialog box [MOUSE R], [R], [D]
Cancel undelete option for every deletion [MOUSE R], [R], [R]
Explorer
Open Explorer [MOUSE R] on Start button, [E]
Refresh a window [F5]
Go to a named folder [CTRL][G], enter name
Jump to a folder Type its initial character(s)
Undo [CTRL][Z]
Select all [CTRL][A]
Move one level up [BACKSPACE]
Close selected folder and its parents [SHIFT][L] on Close button
Rename an item [F2]
Find a file or folder [F3]
Cut selected item [CTRL][X]
Copy selected item [CTRL][C]
Paste copied or cut item [CTRL][V]
Delete an item to Recycle Bin [DEL]
Delete an item to Recycle Bin [MOUSE R], [D]
Delete an item with no undelete [SHIFT][DEL] or [SHIFT][MOUSE R], [D]
View an item's Properties [ALT][ENTER]
View an item's Properties [ALT][MOUSE R][MOUSE R]
Copy a file [CTRL] drag the file
Create a shortcut [CTRL][SHIFT] drag the file
Switch between left and right panes [F6]
Expand current folder's subfolders [*] on numeric keypad
Expand the selected folder [+] on numeric keypad
Collapse the selected folder [-] on numeric keypad
Expand current selection [RIGHT ARROW]
Select first subfolder (if expanded) [RIGHT ARROW]
Collapse current selection [LEFT ARROW]
Select parent folder (if collapsed) [LEFT ARROW]
Change icon size to small [ALT][V], [M]
Change icon size to small [MOUSE R], [V], [M]
Change icon size to large [ALT][V], [G]
Change icon size to large [MOUSE R], [V], [G]
Change icon view to a list [ALT][V], [L]
Change icon view to a list [MOUSE R], [V], [L]
Change icon view to a detailed list [ALT]V, [D]
Change icon view to a detailed list [MOUSE R], [V], [D]
Arrange icons in alphabetical order [ALT]V, [I], [N]
Arrange icons in alphabetical order [MOUSE R], [I], [N]
Arrange icons by size [ALT][V], [I], [S]
Arrange icons by size [MOUSE R], [I], [S]
Arrange icons by type [ALT][V], [I], [T]
Arrange icons by type [MOUSE R], [I], [T]
Arrange icons by modification date [ALT][V], [I], [D]
Arrange icons by modification date [MOUSE R], [I], [D]
Line up icons [ALT]V, [I], [E]
Line up icons [MOUSE R], [I], [E]
Add Toolbar to any Windows applet or folder [ALT][V], [T]
Activate the Toolbar's List box [TAB]
Activate the Toolbar's List box [F4]
Folders
Find a file or folder [F3]
Cut selected item [CTRL][X]
Copy selected item [CTRL][C]
Paste copied or cut item [CTRL][V]
Delete an item to Recycle Bin [DEL]
Delete an item to Recycle Bin [MOUSE R], [D]
Undo delete [MOUSE R] on desktop,[U]
Delete an item with no undelete [SHIFT][DEL]
View an item's Properties [ALT][ENTER]
Copy a file [CTRL] drag the file
Create a shortcut [CTRL][SHIFT] drag the file
Fonts
Install a new font [ALT][F], [I]
Hide font variations (bold, italic, etc.) [ALT][V], [H]
List fonts by similarity [ALT][V], [S]
Printers
Pause print job on selected printer [ALT][F], [A]
Pause print job on selected printer [MOUSE R], [A]
Purge print job on selected printer [ALT][F], [U]
Purge print job on selected printer [MOUSE R], [U]
Set default printer [ALT][F], [F]
Set default printer [MOUSE R], [F]