Knowledge Base

Error Message Formatting Blank Disk: Drive Not Ready

Article ID: 103547

Article Last Modified on 5/6/2003

Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0a
Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft MS-DOS 6.2 Standard Edition
Microsoft MS-DOS 6.21 Standard Edition
Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q103547

SYMPTOMS

The FORMAT command may report "Drive not ready" if you try to format an unformatted disk in drive B after you access an empty drive A. The same problem occurs if you access an empty drive B and then try to format a disk in drive A.

NOTE: If the floppy disk has been previously formatted, the FORMAT command works correctly.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, restart your computer or use the /U (unconditional) parameter when you format the disk. For example, type format b: /u at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS versions 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, and 6.2. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: 6.22 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20 err msg errmsg

Keywords: KB103547