Diskpart: Started the Format, but command-line window has closed. Need to check status of formatting task.

First Name Last Name 1 Reputation point
2020-08-15T04:11:04.147+00:00

OS: Windows 10, Version 1909 (OS Build 18363.1016) Scenario: With diskpart, I listed, selected, cleaned, and started the format command on a 4TB hard drive. The Diskpart command window showed me a progress by the percentage complete. Problem: For unknown reasons, after about 56% format complete, the Diskpart command-line window closed. Perhaps I had accidentally closed it, but I do not know. The hard drive still appears to be undergoing formatting, but how can tell for sure? Is there a way to check the percentage of formatting complete, similar to what I had seen when the command-line window was open? I had checked all the tabs on Task Manager for some clues, but I could not find anything pertaining to formatting or diskpart therein. I also opened a new Diskpart command-line window, but there was no indication of anything was in progress, failed, or had changed. How do I check the status of having run diskpart commands when the command-line window had closed?

Windows 10
Windows 10
A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.
10,617 questions

3 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Jon Alfred Smith 541 Reputation points
    2020-08-15T04:16:25.397+00:00

    Do you see the disk with diskmgmt.msc? If so, assign a drive letter (if that hasn't been) done and use chkdsk.

    0 comments
  2. Xiaowei He 9,871 Reputation points
    2020-08-19T07:04:37.893+00:00

    Hi,

    We may cancel the formating process, if you would like to format the disk, then redo the format again.

    Method 1. Cancel a Format via Diskpart

    Step 1. Run Windows Command Prompt as an administrator.

    Step 2. In the window, enter diskpart > list disk > select disk X > offline disk.

    Step 3. Now the formatting process has been canceled. Continue to enter online disk in order to use it.

    Method 2. Cancel a Format via Disk Management

    Step 1. Right-click "This PC" and choose "Manage".

    Step 2. Go to "Disk Management".

    Step 3. Right-click the disk you are formatting and choose "Offline". To work with it, right-click it again and choose "Online". (You can also choose "Cancel Format".)

    Method 3. Cancel a Format via File Explorer

    If you initiate the formatting process via Windows File Explorer, you will see the formatting window and there is a "Cancel" button available for you in it. You can click the button to stop the formatting process. If this method fails to work. you can use one of the two methods above to cancel the format, which will work definitely.

    If the reply could be of help, please help to accept it as an answer, thanks for your cooperation!
    Thanks for your time!
    Best Regards,
    Anne

    0 comments
  3. Andrew Eckrich 16 Reputation points
    2020-08-20T00:37:31.087+00:00

    DiskPart runs in windows explorer/DOS cmd,but it can not format with the HD is in use...It can/could format a slave HD,in run type:
    diskmgmt.msc locate the HD,R.click,delete/create/format,this being a slave HD/USB Flash included..As far as formatting C: start pc to the windows
    OS cd/set for this in the BIOS,at OS cd menu,delete/create/format/the rest runs auto..Also,the HD mfg web site has a DOS utility that can format
    any storage device in DOS,download to a cd,set pc to start in cdrom,this being the utility is installed in the cd,follow the instructions...

    0 comments