what does it mean to "format a diskette?", does it have to be done before each use or just once, or at all?

Question

I just began a course on operating systems and you may have guessed it, I dont know squat about computers! I did however follow the step by step instructions to format a diskette using the DOS comand prompt.

Answer 1

Formatting a diskette prepares the diskette to receive the information that you want to save on it. The procedure only needs to be performed once, unless the diskette is exposed to high magnetism which erases everything on it. Most diskettes that you buy in the store now come pre-formatted.

Answer 2

your in a the wrong course, no one uses diskettes any more, knowing DOS can be handy for computers that crash and you can reboot to DOS, but other than that the format command works well on hard drives as well as floppy.

Answer 3

You only need to format 3.5" floppy disks once.
Most disks are already formatted to PC or Mac when you purchase them, but learning how to format is a good introduction topic.