Formatting media in a drive

Use Format media to format the media currently in the drive. Most devices do not support formatting. If formatting is not supported, the option is not available.

If you use Format on a DC2000 tape, the formatting may take two or more hours to complete.

Caution:

Formatting erases the media. All data on the media is lost.

You cannot cancel a Format operation after it has started; however, you can use Cancel to stop a queued Format operation.

The job will be submitted as a Run now job, unless you submitted the job on hold. You can monitor the Format operation from the Job Monitor.

To format media in a drive

  1. On the navigation bar, click Devices.

  2. Expand the server icon.

  3. Select the drive or slot containing the media you want to format.

  4. Under Media Tasks in the task pane, select Format media.

    The media label that is displayed was read during the last inventory operation. The media label displayed does not change until another inventory operation occurs. Therefore, if you changed media in the slot or drive but did not run Inventory, the media label displayed may not match the actual media in the slot or drive.

  5. To format the media that is displayed, click Yes.

  6. To specify a job name or a job priority, on the Properties pane, under Settings, click General.

  7. If you want a person or group to be notified when the job completes, in the Properties pane, under Settings, click Notification, and select the options you want.

    See Sending a notification when a job completes.

  8. Click Run now.

More Information

General options for utility jobs

Formatting media in a drive