Formatting a disk is the process of preparing it to store data by creating a file system on it. In Windows, you can format a disk using the Command Prompt or the Disk Management tool. In this article, we will explore both methods.

Method 1: Formatting a Disk Using Command Prompt (CMD)

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by searching for "Command Prompt" in the Start menu, right-clicking on it, and selecting "Run as administrator".
2. Type the following command to open the Diskpart utility:

   diskpart

3. Once in the Diskpart utility, use the following command to list all the available disks:

   list disk

4. Identify the disk number of the disk you want to format from the list. Make sure to select the correct disk as formatting will erase all data on it.
5. Use the following command to select the disk:

   select disk [disk number]

   Replace [disk number] with the actual disk number you identified in the previous step.

6. Next, use the following command to clean the disk, which removes all partitions and volumes:

   clean

7. After cleaning the disk, use the following command to create a new partition:

   create partition primary

8. To format the newly created partition, use the following command:

   format fs=ntfs quick

   Replace "ntfs" with the desired file system, such as "fat32" or "exfat", if needed. The "quick" parameter performs a quick format, while omitting it will perform a full format.

9. Once the format is complete, you can assign a drive letter to the partition using the following command:

   assign letter=[drive letter]

   Replace [drive letter] with the desired letter to assign to the partition.

Method 2: Formatting a Disk Using Disk Management

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "diskmgmt.msc" and press Enter to open Disk Management.
3. In the Disk Management window, locate the disk you want to format.
4. Right-click on the disk and select "Format".
5. Choose the desired file system and allocation unit size.
6. Optionally, provide a volume label for the disk.
7. Check the "Perform a quick format" option if you want to perform a quick format.
8. Click on "OK" to start the formatting process.

Remember to be cautious when formatting a disk as it will erase all data on it. Make sure to back up any important data before proceeding.

In conclusion, formatting a disk in Windows can be done using either the Command Prompt or the Disk Management tool. Both methods provide a straightforward way to prepare a disk for data storage.