SYNTAX

Erase volume1 [volume2]… [-s] [-y]

DESCRIPTION

The Erase command initializes the specified volumes, destroying all previous contents. You can specify volumes by name or drive number.

A dialog requests confirmation before executing this command. You can use the -y option to handle this request noninteractively.

WARNING

This command permanently erases the contents of the specified volumes. •

INPUT

None

OUTPUT

None

ALIAS RESOLUTION

You can use an alias that resolves to a volume name as a parameter to this command.

STATUS

Erase can return the following status codes:

PARAMETERS

volume1 [volume2]…

Specifies one or more volumes by name or drive number. Volume names must end with a colon. If you specify a number without a colon, Erase interprets it as a drive number.

OPTIONS

-s

Formats the disk for single-sided use (that is, as a 400 KB, non-HFS disk).

-y

Prevents the display of any confirmation dialogs by automatically responding Yes. This causes initialization to begin immediately.

WARNING

If you use the -y option, you do not get a chance to prevent the erasure of any of the specified volumes. •

EXAMPLES

This command line initializes the Reports volume:

Erase Reports:

The following command line initializes the volume in drive 1 (the internal floppy drive):

Erase 1

In the latter example, Erase formats the volume as the same size disk as floppy drive 1 handles. For example, it formats an 800 KB disk if drive 1 is an 800 KB drive.

LIMITATIONS

The Erase command cannot initialize non-Macintosh disks.