http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms186865.aspx{ NOFORMAT | FORMAT }
Specifies whether the media header should be written on the volumes used for this backup operation, overwriting any existing media header and backup sets.
NOFORMAT
Specifies that the backup operation preserves the existing media header and backup sets on the media volumes used for this backup operation. This is the default behavior.
FORMAT
Specifies that a new media set be created. FORMAT causes the backup operation to write a new media header on all media volumes used for the backup operation. The existing contents of the volume become invalid, because any existing media header and backup sets are overwritten.
Important:
Use FORMAT carefully. Formatting any volume of a media set renders the entire media set unusable. For example, if you initialize a single tape belonging to an existing striped media set, the entire media set is rendered useless.