I have a bunch of used 3.5" floppies I would like to format so I can get rid of them safely. There is nothing real importaqnt on them, but I want to format them anywayi. I am used to seeing Format Disk on my older Win98 computer, and I used to do that routinely. How do I format thses disks in xp home edition. All I get from help is something about volumes. Help a sr citizen

Right click on My Computer and select open. Right click on Floppy drive with the floppy disk inserted and select format. Next Window gives the option of full format or quick erase. Quick erase should be good enough.

used 3.5" floppies I would like to format so I can get rid of them safely

If you mean security-wise/sensitive_information by safely, keep in mind that formatting only clears the file listing in the FAT (File Allocation Table, there's two). The data is still on the disk until that space is overwritten, many many times.

If you have sensitive information on these floppies, you'd be better off by breaking them open to get at the floppy media "platter", and cutting it into small bits with some scissors.

Otherwise, the above advice should be followed.