To prepare a piece of equipment (computer, printer, modem, and so on) to get ready to do something important. Initializing clears the equipment of any old data still stored in it.
divide (a disk) into marked sectors so that it may store data; "Please format this disk before entering data!"
To change the state of an enumerator or data source object so that it can be used to access data. For example, initializing a data source object might require the data provider to open a data file or connect to a database.
To write the Volume ID in the header before a tape is used.
To prepare a blank disk to receive information by organizing its surface into tracks and sectors; also known as format. A disk which contains data may also be re-initialized, effectively erasing any existing information.
To prepare a digital storage medium (like a floppy disk) so that it will accept and store digital information bits.
To prepare a disk so it can hold information. When you initialize a disk, any information already on it is destroyed.
storage: The process of erasing a disk's directory so that new data can be written over the old. Since initialization doesn't remove the data, it can be recovered with a disk utility if the disk is initialized by mistake.
To reset a computer or program to some starting values. When used to describe floppy or hard disks, the term means the same as format.
In Disk Management, the process of detecting a disk or volume and assigning it a status (for example, healthy) and a type (for example, dynamic).
a process to prepare a data cartridge or minicartridge to read and write ... usually refers to retensioning the tape and header blocks prior to use
The start-up procedure for computer systems using peripheral units such as disk drives or printers. The initialization program sets up the starting condition. Input/output device : Any device which allows the computer to communicate with the outside world, and vice versa. An alphanumeric keyboard is an I/O device, so is a CRT screen (when a light pen is added for input), a musical keyboard is often an input device and sometimes also an output device.
to format a disk for use in the computer; creates a new directory and arranges the tracks for the recording of data.