How do I format a disk to NTFS using CMD?
How do I format a disk to NTFS using CMD?
2 Answers

Alright, formatting a disk to NTFS using Command Prompt in Windows isn’t rocket science, but you gotta be careful—make sure anything important is backed up because formatting wipes your drive clean.
So, here’s how you do it:
- Bust open Command Prompt as the boss (Administrator, that is). You can do this by hitting Windows + S, typing ‘cmd’, right-clicking ‘Command Prompt’, and selecting ‘Run as administrator’.
- Let’s kick things off by typing
diskpart
in the CMD window and hittingEnter
. You’re now hanging out in DiskPart. - Next, lay out the land with
list disk
. HitEnter
and jot down that disk number you’re about to cannonball into. - Reel in your target by typing
select disk X
, swappingX
for the number you noted earlier. - If you want everything gone, like a clean slate, you might wanna type
clean
and hitEnter
. This step is optional, but hey, sometimes you just need to start fresh. - Now, carve out a new space by typing
create partition primary
and pressingEnter
. - Lock in that new spot with
select partition 1
and a quick tap ofEnter
. - Time to do the deed—format the thing to NTFS by typing
format fs=ntfs quick
. HitEnter
and let it do its thing. Tossingquick
keeps it speedy, but you can leave it out if you want a full check for bad sectors. - Slap a letter on your new buddy with
assign letter=X
, choosing whatever letter feels right to you. - Finally, wrap it up by tapping
exit
twice—once to leave DiskPart and again to close out the Command Prompt.
Boom! Your disk’s all set and formatted to NTFS, ready to strut its stuff.

Alright, let’s get you sorted with formatting a disk to NTFS using the good old Command Prompt in Windows. It’s a bit geeky but super handy, especially when you want your drives to play nice with Windows.
First, you gotta launch Command Prompt as an administrator. Hit the Start menu or go bananas with the Windows key, type ‘cmd’, and right-click to run it as admin. It’s like getting the keys to the kingdom because you need those privileges to mess around with disks.
Then, you’re going to launch DiskPart. Think of it as the secret agent tool for disk stuff. Just type diskpart
and smack Enter. Easy-peasy!
Next, let’s list out all the disks you’ve got hooked up. Type list disk
and hit Enter. Bam! You’ve got a nice rundown of all the disks, including their sizes—you might find a long-lost friend in there!
Once you’ve spotted your target disk, it’s time to focus. Type select disk X
, swapping ‘X’ for your disk number—like select disk 1
. You’ll get the nod that it’s locked and loaded.
Here’s the kicker: you’re going to wipe it clean. Type clean
and hit Enter. It’s like a spring clean but for your disk, so don’t forget to back up any good stuff you’ve got stored.
Now, let’s get creative and build a new partition. Type create partition primary
and slam that Enter key again. You’re a partition wizard now!
Alright, time to select that slice of heaven you just whipped up. Type select partition 1
, assuming it’s the first—if you’re doing number puzzles, go with select partition X
.
After this, it’s showtime: format that partition to NTFS. format fs=ntfs quick
is your magic spell. Pause on the ‘quick’ if you want a thorough look-see for bad sectors.
To top it off, give your newly formatted partition a personality by assigning a drive letter. Type assign letter=X
, replacing ‘X’ with your favorite—perhaps E for ‘Epic’.
Finally, back away from DiskPart with a simple exit
, then shut down Command Prompt. You’re done! Your disk is spiffy, ready to roll with Windows.
And that’s it! It’s not rocket science, but it’ll have you feeling like a techie. Whether gearing up external or internal drives, formatting them right with NTFS ensures smooth sailing in the Windows world.