Volume label for disk c. What is a volume label? Volume label for disk when formatting ntfs
The most important information about a disk is the amount of free and used space. To obtain this information, open the My Computer window by double-clicking the My Computer icon, then right-clicking on the icon of the desired drive and selecting Properties from the context menu. The General tab indicates the amount of free and used space on the disk, volume label, disk type and file system.
What is a volume label?
A volume label is an alphanumeric label up to 11 characters long (in NTFS system- up to 32 characters) indicating the disk name. This label appears along with the drive icon. Having a drive label is not necessary, but it often helps when organizing floppy or removable drives.
How do I change the volume label?
Opening the My Computer window double click on the My Computer icon, right-click on the desired drive icon and select context menu Properties item. On the General tab, you can enter the volume label in the field at the top of the window. In addition, the volume label can be set when formatting the disk.
14.4. File systemWindows 7 ( kb.chemtable.com/ru/ windows-7 -file- system.htm )
Windows 7 uses a file system NTFS, which, today, is one of the most common in the world.
The basis of NTFS is MFT (Master File Table). In essence, it is a file of a special format, which is located in a special MFT zone of the partition. This zone is accessible only to service tools operating system or special utilities that access the hard drive directly. MFT presents a table that lists all files with basic attributes and security settings. But not only. For each file, MFT stores the addresses of the sectors in which its contents are located. This is very important information, because without it the system simply would not know where the requested object is and where to move the reading head hard drive.
In Windows 7, there are a number of folders called service folders. By default, they are the same for all users of this OS. It is advisable not to touch some of them, as this may lead to malfunctions. Windows work 7. The content of others can be changed without any fear.
Without a doubt, this is the most important folder located on the active partition of the hard drive. It stores all executable files of the operating system, drivers, modules, etc. Therefore, deleting anything from this folder is strictly not recommended. It is worth noting that in some cases it may have a different name.
Windows.old
Folder with the old operating system. Occurs on the hard drive if Windows 7 was installed without formatting it. For the vast majority of users, it is not needed, and therefore can be removed completely calmly.
Folder for storing user profiles. By default, it is located in the root of the disk with the operating system. Contains a number of standard folders, as well as one folder for each account. They contain “user” subfolders, including Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Favorites, etc. Their contents depend entirely on the person. Other subfolders are used to store service information of various applications, browsers, etc.: AppData, ApplicationData, Cookies, Local Settings, etc. They are hidden and it is not recommended to change their contents manually.
The folder that contains all operating system boot files. It is hidden and should not be changed.
ProgramData
Another very important one hidden folder. It is where applications installed on the operating system store their data, installation files, etc. Naturally, there is no need to remove anything from it.
Recovery
The folder in which the image required to enter the recovery environment is stored. Again, it is hidden and cannot be changed.
$Recycle.Bin
Essentially, this folder is the Windows Recycle Bin. This is where all deleted information is moved. The folder is hidden, however, you can delete both it and its contents. In essence, this will be tantamount to emptying the Trash or part of it. Please note that each hard drive partition has its own $Recycle.Bin folder, which stores files deleted from it.
Question from a user
Hello.
I want to completely delete all content on the disk, and then reinstall the system. I have two drives ("C:" and "D:") - I was able to format one, but there is a problem with the "C:" drive. Can you tell me how to format the system HDD(which has Windows 8 installed)?
Good day to all!
In general, today modern system formatting a disk is not a complicated operation, I would even say simple (not like it was 20 years ago). Perhaps, questions arise only in cases where Windows does not see the disk, errors appear during formatting, or when trying to format system disk(as in your case).
In the article below I will discuss several formatting methods - depending on your tasks and specific problem, select the one you need. So...
Important: After formatting the drive, all information on it will be deleted! Make a copy in advance necessary files from disk to third-party media.
From under Windows
Via My Computer
Probably the classic and easiest way to format a disk is to go to “My Computer” (or “This Computer”, depending on the version of your OS), find in it required section disk. Then select this section, right-click on it - and select the required one in the context menu (ie formatting, see screenshot below).
Note: if the "My Computer" icon is not on the desktop, and you do not know how to open it, press the button combination WIN+E- Explorer will open: in the menu on the left, select the link to “My Computer/This Computer”.
Format disk // This PC // Windows 10
- file system: FAT 32, NTFS, exFAT, etc. In most cases, the most best option for a hard drive - use NTFS;
- allocation unit size: 4096 bytes (optimal);
- volume label: disk name, you can enter any (I recommend using the Latin alphabet, as some programs do not read Russian font correctly).
In general, the default settings will usually suit most users - you can immediately click the "Start" button. In a few minutes you will receive a “clean” disk...
Via Disk Management
In cases where you go to “My Computer” - and it simply does not show your connected disk (this often happens with new disks that have not been formatted) - then you need to use either special utilities, or use the Disk Management tool built into Windows.
To open Disk Management you need to:
- press a combination of buttons WIN+R to open the Run window;
- enter the command diskmgmt.msc and press Enter. The Disk Management application should open.
Next, you will see not only all connected disks, flash drives, memory cards, etc., but also what partitions were created on them - i.e. the entire structure. Select the desired section and right-click on it - in the context menu, click on the item "Format..." (see red arrows in the screenshot below).
Via command line
In cases where Explorer freezes (for example), also in the event of various types of errors, you can try formatting the disk via the command line.
First you need to open it as an administrator. For this:
format G: /FS:NTFS /q
G: - letter of the drive to be formatted (specify carefully!);
/FS:NTFS - select a file system;
/q - quick formatting.
Basically, the disk must be formatted.
In Windows 10, by the way, a small “error” may appear - the system will ask you to specify the volume label for the disk, and then write that “The specified disk label is invalid” (although you seem to have specified everything correctly, example below).
In this case, do the following...
First open in command line the drive you want to format, for example, the drive G: (see screenshot below).
Team VOL- look at the volume label
Next, enter the formatting command again, and in the disk label field - the label that we found out in the previous step (in my case - Windows 8). Next, you will be warned that all data will be destroyed during formatting (you agree by entering y and pressing Enter ).
In the next step you will be prompted to enter a volume label - now you can enter any name (32 characters). You can simply leave the field empty by pressing Enter. Actually, that’s it - the disk will be formatted (screenshot below).
With the help of special utilities
The best programs and utilities for working with a hard drive:
Now there are hundreds various programs and utilities for working with hard drives. Operations such as formatting, partitioning, defragmentation, etc. can be done in more convenient programs than those built into Windows. The link to the article with the best of them is given above.
In my opinion, one of those that deserves attention is AOMEI Partition Assistant.
AOMEI Partition Assistant
It allows you to quickly, safely, and easily carry out the most necessary operations with disk drives:
- change their partition size (including without formatting);
- move partitions;
- merge sections;
- format drives;
- change labels and much more!
What’s also captivating is that the program has many different step by step masters- they will help solve the problem even for those users who have only recently become acquainted with a PC. Well, for example, you can convert a file FAT system 32 to NTFS without data loss, transfer Windows from a hard drive to a newfangled SSD, etc.
Via BIOS
(for formatting system partitions, for example, on which Windows is installed)
If you want to format a partition on which Windows is installed, you won’t be able to do it just like that. The bottom line is that you need to boot from another medium - for example, from another hard drive (on which Windows is installed) or from bootable flash drive, and then format your disk.
Naturally, you need to prepare such media in advance (for example, an installation flash drive with Windows) - since after formatting the system partition of the drive, Windows will no longer boot from it (until you install it again. I explained it chaotically, but in general outline, I think it’s clear ☻).
Using a Windows installation flash drive
The easiest way to format system partition disk - use an installation USB flash drive with Windows. You can learn how to create and prepare it (if you don’t have one) from my previous articles (links are provided below).
Utilities for creating bootable flash drives with Windows -
Creation Bootable USB flash drive Windows 10 -
Creating a bootable USB flash drive for installing Windows XP, 7, 8, 10 (UEFI and Legacy) -
The easiest way to boot from a flash drive is to use a special boot menu- BOOT MENU, which can be called immediately after turning on the computer/laptop (or by changing the boot priority in the BIOS). In order not to repeat myself here, I will provide a couple of links to detailed articles about this.
Hotkeys for logging in BIOS menu, Boot Menu, recovery from a hidden partition -
How to configure the BIOS to boot from a flash drive or disk (CD/DVD/USB) -
Next, booting from installation flash drive, you need to get to the selection of the partition for installing Windows. In this step, you can format the entire disk (delete all partitions and create them again), as well as its individual partitions.
If there are difficulties and you do not know how to get to this step when Windows installation- I recommend reading this article:
With the help of special programs
Take the same AOMEI Partition Assistant that I recommended using when working under Windows, just above in the article. She has an excellent tool in her arsenal for creating a special emergency flash drive from which you can boot when your system crashes (or it is not installed on the disk at all).
I have an article on programs for working with hard drives on my blog:(including information about AOMEI Partition Assistant).
To create such a flash drive, you need to run the program on your working PC "Master/Make Bootable CD Master".
To boot from such a flash drive, use also Boot Menu, links to instructions were given above in the article, in the previous step. When you boot from the emergency flash drive, the menu and operation of the program will be similar to that running under Windows. Also click on to the desired disk and perform the necessary operation (screenshot below).
AOMEI Partition Assistant - formatting a partition
That's all, a separate merci for additions.
"Disk 31.5 GB"
Important!!! UNMOUNTED
/dev/sda1 and a new label new_label.
1. For Ext2/3
1.1. Install e2fsprogs
if they are not installed:
e2label /dev/sda1 new_label
2. For ReiserFS
2.1. Install reiserfsprogs
if they are not installed:
3. For XFS
3.1. Install xfsprogs
if they are not installed:
4. For JFS
4.1. Install jfsutils
if they are not installed:
5. For Fat32
5.1. Install mtools
if they are not installed:
6. For NTFS
6.1. Install ntfsprogs
if they are not installed:
ntfslabel /dev/sda1 new_label
Disc labels for different file systems
Many people have probably encountered the fact that when you mount disks somewhere, in programs (for example GnomeCommander) they are then displayed as /mnt/disk, etc. Or, for example, when you connect a USB drive, it is displayed in the system as "Disk 31.5 GB" (For example). So I decided to get rid of such names and assign normal labels to the disks, as, for example, in the same Windows.
Unlike Windows, Linux has more file systems, so let’s look at the most common ones.
Setting tags via the console
Important!!! Before you can change or apply labels to disks, the disks must be UNMOUNTED. You also do all manipulations with sections at your own peril and risk. There have been cases when people lost important information by not following commands correctly and not carefully reading warning messages.
Below, for example, the disk will be used /dev/sda1 and a new label new_label.
1. For Ext2/3
1.1. Install e2fsprogs
if they are not installed:
1.2. Set the disk label:
e2label /dev/sda1 new_label
2. For ReiserFS
2.1. Install reiserfsprogs
if they are not installed:
2.2. Set the disk label:
reiserfstune -l new_label /dev/sda1
3. For XFS
3.1. Install xfsprogs
if they are not installed:
3.2. Set the disk label:
xfs_admin -l new_label /dev/sda1
4. For JFS
4.1. Install jfsutils
if they are not installed:
4.2. Set the disk label:
jfs_tune -L new_label /dev/sda1
5. For Fat32
5.1. Install mtools
if they are not installed:
5.2. Set the disk label:
mlabel -i /dev/sda1::new_label
6. For NTFS
6.1. Install ntfsprogs
if they are not installed:
6.2. Set the disk label:
ntfslabel /dev/sda1 new_label
Setting tags via gparted
1. Before labeling a partition or disk, unmount it and install necessary programs for the file system you need. What programs these are are described above in the installation via the console section.
2. Right click on the section and select "Label" and enter new label.
2.1. If suddenly a message appears that you may lose all the data on the partition or disk, under no circumstances continue and double-check the correctness of your actions.
P.S. I changed the labels for Fat32, Ext3 and NTFS partitions- everything went without a hitch.
Utility bsdlabel sets, verifies, or changes the label of a BSD partition on the disk or file containing the partition image. Besides, bsdlabel can install bootloader code on the disk.Bsdlabel [-A] disk| -f file bsdlabel -w [-An] [-B [-b loader]] [-m car ] disk| -f file [type] bsdlabel -e [-An] [-B [-b loader]] [-m car ] disk| -f file bsdlabel -R [-An] [-B [-b loader]] [-m car] [-f] disk| -f file prototype_file