is formatting HDD bad?

Generic Superhero · 31-12-2005, 09:48 AM

is it true that formatting degrades hard disk performance?

siriusb · 31-12-2005, 10:13 AM

Frequent low-level formatting may be bad, but high level formatting is nothing special, afaik. Or is there a case against it?

legolas · 31-12-2005, 10:15 AM

a quick format isnt bad. it jus removes the references to local files. a zero-fill format(full format) intends to overload the hardisk and for that reason it is not to be done unless its of absolute necessity. thats y it may be of potential harm to ur hardisk. other than that there shud be no technical reason.

/legolas

Generic Superhero · 31-12-2005, 10:16 AM

hi-level and low-level format... wat are these?

legolas · 31-12-2005, 10:34 AM

he means low-level as zero-fill or full format and high-level as quick format. may be he means the level of abstraction as high and low. low level means u get deeper inside by formatting everything...

/legolas

chesss · 31-12-2005, 02:11 PM

I really doubt if thats the case. For one i have myself formatted my harddrive atleast 30 times in the past year.
Secondly I read some time ago that some users do a format of the system every 2 months just to keep things clean.
Lastly an occasional format (once in a year) is hardly somethng to be bothered about.

Just do a quick(or fast) format, it wouldn't hurt.

legolas · 31-12-2005, 03:00 PM

well with windows OS, we definitely hav to format within 2 months definitely and reinstall a fresh copy!

thats known case.. thks to the "quick format"!!!

/legolas

vijay_7287 · 31-12-2005, 05:31 PM

in 2005 i formatted my disk i.e. some partitions more than 100 times i.e. quick format

no probs watsoever

koshyjohn · 31-12-2005, 07:52 PM

Quick formatting justs clears the file allocation table (FAT) or the Master File Table (MFT on NTFS) which contain the references to files ie. the location of a file on the HDD and other properties like System, Read-only, Hidden, and possibly other meta-information.

Low level formatting reads and writes to each and every bit on your hard-disk, checking for bad sectors. This is very slow but can increase reliability when done occasionally on old HDDs.

JGuru · 01-01-2006, 11:38 AM

Formatting your Harddisk won't harm it.
I format every 2 months. Doing it for the past 5 years!!
Make sure you use a Good UPS like APC or Numeric.
Earth the Power supply properly.
That will do, Dude!!

h_kunte · 01-01-2006, 12:27 PM

All this about formatting the HDD is fine....

But can anyone tell me whether formatting a flash disk is safe? I have a 1 GB stick & hav formatted it a couple of times...both quick format & full format....

I also remember having read a thread on this forum by some guy who formatted his flash stick & some space on it got corrupted & was rendered useless....Does this kind of a thing really happen?

Looking for answres...

HK

ax3 · 03-01-2006, 11:36 AM

has anybody a link abt how 2 format HDD (new or old 1) ???

PS : 4 a newbie like myself ... i just hate 2 call my hdw vendor 4 such small things & get charged heavy ... help me plz ...

QwertyManiac · 03-01-2006, 12:03 PM

A windows user not knowin how to format ? Its like living w/o breatin

...

Enter DOS by typin "Cmd" in Start > Run.
Type ---> Format x: where "X" is ur partition alphabet which u wanna format.

Another workaround :
Right Click My Comp > Manage > Storage > Right click the partition u need to format/delete and choose te respective option.

To erase the whole windows, boot from a DOS disk, and type that "Format" command.

For more params, type format /? in dos/cmd