A storage controller is provided. The storage controller includes circuitry configured to utilize a format command to change a storage volume coupled to the storage controller from a first format to a second format and memory configured to store a data structure for first and second format indications for the storage volume. The storage controller determines if a selected band is initialized to the second format, and if the selected band is not initialized to the second format, the storage controller initializes the selected band to the second format and updates the data structure to indicate the selected band is initialized to the second format.