Initialize-Disk

Module:

Storage

Initializes a RAW disk for first time use, enabling the disk to be formatted and used to store data.

Syntax

Initialize-Disk
          [-Number] <UInt32[]>
          [-PartitionStyle <PartitionStyle>]
          [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
          [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
          [-AsJob]
          [-PassThru]
          [-WhatIf]
          [-Confirm]
          [<CommonParameters>]

Initialize-Disk
          -UniqueId <String[]>
          [-PartitionStyle <PartitionStyle>]
          [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
          [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
          [-AsJob]
          [-PassThru]
          [-WhatIf]
          [-Confirm]
          [<CommonParameters>]

Initialize-Disk
          [-FriendlyName <String[]>]
          [-PartitionStyle <PartitionStyle>]
          [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
          [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
          [-AsJob]
          [-PassThru]
          [-WhatIf]
          [-Confirm]
          [<CommonParameters>]

Initialize-Disk
          -Path <String[]>
          [-PartitionStyle <PartitionStyle>]
          [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
          [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
          [-AsJob]
          [-PassThru]
          [-WhatIf]
          [-Confirm]
          [<CommonParameters>]

Initialize-Disk
          [-VirtualDisk <CimInstance>]
          [-PartitionStyle <PartitionStyle>]
          [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
          [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
          [-AsJob]
          [-PassThru]
          [-WhatIf]
          [-Confirm]
          [<CommonParameters>]

Initialize-Disk
          -InputObject <CimInstance[]>
          [-PartitionStyle <PartitionStyle>]
          [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
          [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
          [-AsJob]
          [-PassThru]
          [-WhatIf]
          [-Confirm]
          [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Initialize-Disk cmdlet initializes a Disk object with the RAW partition style to either the MBR or GPT partition styles. The default partition style is GPT. Disks must be initialized before they can be formatted and used to store data.

Examples

Example 1: Initialize a disk using default values

PS C:\>Initialize-Disk -Number 1

This example initializes the first disk in the computer (disk number 1), using the default values, which initializes the disk using the GPT partition style.

Example 2: Initialize a disk using the MBR partition style

PS C:\> Initialize-Disk -Number 1 -PartitionStyle MBR

This example initializes a disk using the MBR partition style.

Example 3: Initialize a virtual disk

PS C:\>Initialize-Disk -VirtualDisk (Get-VirtualDisk -FriendlyName UserData)

This example uses the VirtualDisk parameter with the Get-VirtualDisk cmdlet to get a virtual disk with the friendly name UserData, and initialize the Disk object associated with the virtual disk.

Parameters

-AsJob

Runs the cmdlet as a background job. Use this parameter to run commands that take a long time to complete.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-CimSession

Runs the cmdlet in a remote session or on a remote computer. Enter a computer name or a session object, such as the output of a New-CimSession or Get-CimSession cmdlet. The default is the current session on the local computer.

Type:	CimSession[]
Aliases:	Session
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Aliases:	cf
Position:	Named
Default value:	False
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-FriendlyName

Specifies the friendly name of the disk to initialize.

Type:	String[]
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	True
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-InputObject

Specifies the input object that is used in a pipeline command.

Type:	CimInstance[]
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	True
Accept pipeline input:	True
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-Number

Specifies the disk number of the disk to initialize.

Type:	UInt32[]
Position:	0
Default value:	None
Required:	True
Accept pipeline input:	True
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-PartitionStyle

Specifies the type of the partition. The acceptable values for this parameter are: MBR or GPT. The disk must be set to read-write (IsReadOnly $false ) before this cmdlet will work.

Type:	PartitionStyle
Accepted values:	Unknown, MBR, GPT
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-PassThru

Sends items from the interactive window down the pipeline as input to other cmdlets. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.

To send items from the interactive window down the pipeline, click to select the items and then click OK. Shift-click and Ctrl-click are supported.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-Path

Specifies the path of the disk to initialize.

Type:	String[]
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	True
Accept pipeline input:	True
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-ThrottleLimit

Specifies the maximum number of concurrent operations that can be established to run the cmdlet. If this parameter is omitted or a value of 0 is entered, then Windows PowerShell® calculates an optimum throttle limit for the cmdlet based on the number of CIM cmdlets that are running on the computer. The throttle limit applies only to the current cmdlet, not to the session or to the computer.

Type:	Int32
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-UniqueId

Specifies the UniqueID of the disk to initialize

Type:	String[]
Aliases:	Id
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	True
Accept pipeline input:	True
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-VirtualDisk

Specifies the VirtualDisk object for which you want to initialize the associated Disk object. The Virtual Disk CIM object is exposed by the Get-VirtualDisk cmdlet.

Type:	CimInstance
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	True
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Aliases:	wi
Position:	Named
Default value:	False
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

Inputs

CimInstance

You can pipe an MSFT_VirtualDisk object to the VirtualDisk parameter.

CimInstance

You can pipe an MSFT_Disk object to the InputObject parameter.

Outputs

CimInstance

If you specify the Passthru parameter, this cmdlet returns an object representing the newly initialized disk.

Notes

• When used in Failover Cluster, cmdlets from the Storage module operate on cluster level (all servers in the cluster).

Related Links

• Clear-Disk
• Get-Disk
• Get-Partition
• Set-Disk
• Update-Disk