Command-Line Disk Formatting In Windows Server 2016

In this article, I will explain the DiskPart command and some of the DiskPart commands to format, create and extend disks, volumes, partitions etc., using command-line shell.

DiskPart: DiskPart is a command interpreter, which enables you to manage the objects (disks, partitions, or volumes) by using scripts or direct an input from a command prompt.

To go to Disk Management, using Server Manger, go to Tools and click Computer Management.



Image: Server Manager Dashboard.

Under the Storage —> Disk Management —> Select Disk Management. —> You’ll find different disks and volumes.

Image: Computer Management

To switch to DiskPart

Open Command Prompt as an Administrator —> type DiskPart.



To list all the disks

Type list disk.

To list all the volumes

Type list volume.



To select a disk

Type select disk <disk number>, as shown below.



To create partition of the disk

To create new partition, type create partition primary size < specify the size in MB>, as shown below.



Once we create a new partition with 500 MB size, we can go back to Disk Management, using Computer Management and verify the newly created volume. As we can see below, there’s a new volume, which has been created with 500 MB size.

Image: Computer Management

To do a Quick Format of the disk volume

Type “format quick fs=ntfs label=“Unused Volume” ( You can give any name).



To verify the changes from the results given above, type list volume.

To see all the DiskPart commands

Type ?



To select a disk

Type exit



To switch to PowerShell

Once you exit from DiskPart, type PowerShell to switch to PowerShell.