Difference between quick format and regular format?

[Sash]

I am given a choice of going for a "quick format" versus the ordinary
format.

Is t here any difference with regarding to getting rid of a virus, is one
more powerful?

Thanks

 

[River_Rat]

When you do a "quick format", all it does is allocate a section of
your HD and mark it as usable. There is no testing to make sure there
aren't any bad sectors.

You shouldn't have the option of doing a quick format on a "new" drive
though, a drive has to have already being formatted to do a quick format.


--
Good Day
River Rat




I am given a choice of going for a "quick format" versus the ordinary
format.

Is t here any difference with regarding to getting rid of a virus, is one
more powerful?

Thanks

 

[Sash]

When you do a "quick format", all it does is allocate a section of
your HD and mark it as usable. There is no testing to make sure there
aren't any bad sectors.

You shouldn't have the option of doing a quick format on a "new" drive
though, a drive has to have already being formatted to do a quick format.

Hiya

Yes it is a brand knew computer and it gives the choice when doing a clean
install from the xp disc. It is a proper stand alone xp disc. and it gives
the choice of quick format or ordinary format.

 

[Bert Kinney]

This article will explain it Sash.
Differences between a Quick format and a regular format during a
"clean" installation of WinXP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302686

 

[Sash]

This article will explain it Sash.
Differences between a Quick format and a regular format during a "clean"
installation of WinXP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302686

Ahh thanks!! Thats what I need, I am here on the ng's recovering from a
virus infection, a bad one, funny thing was is that it was thanks to the NG
I discovered it, I was adviced to use a firewall and during the course of
trying the firewall I discovered a virus because it was calling home, every
single antivirus device I had installed failed to detect it. How about
that???

AVG failed to detect it
Etrust failed to detect it
Spybot Failed to detct it
Adaware Failed to detect it

Only zone alarm and sygate failed to detect it. Now I am never again going
to be vulnerable.

 

[Michael Stevens]

Hiya

Yes it is a brand knew computer and it gives the choice when doing a
clean install from the xp disc. It is a proper stand alone xp disc.
and it gives the choice of quick format or ordinary format.

Quick format is fine in this instance.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Sash]

Quick format is fine in this instance.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

Thankyou Michael,
I've now got a complete ok computer after about 24 hours of hard spent time
and panick, and loosing data, now I have it protected with Norton systems.
thanks for your intput you people provide a valuable service to people like
myself.

 

[Michael Stevens]

Thankyou Michael,
I've now got a complete ok computer after about 24 hours of hard
spent time and panick, and loosing data, now I have it protected with
Norton systems. thanks for your intput you people provide a valuable
service to people like myself.

You are welcome.
Thank you,

 

[Kelly]

First off, a format of any kind is NEVER necessary for a virus.

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Sash]

First off, a format of any kind is NEVER necessary for a virus.

Well, thats easy for you to say Kelly, but I tried everything and at the end
of the day someone with less experience might find it faster to do a clean
install rather than spend hours tweaking around or learning how to adjust
registry keys etc.etc. don't you think?

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

It may seem easy for me to say; however, I offer my help in every avenue. As
per the tone of your reply, I would have walked you through each measure,
know that. I didn't mean to insult you at all, my reply is for all users
dealing with the same issues.

-
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Sash]

Hi,

It may seem easy for me to say; however, I offer my help in every avenue.

Hi Kelly,

Sorry if my tone sounded "off" it wasn't at all meant to be, I meant it as a
figure of speech only.

As per the tone of your reply, I would have walked you through each
measure,

know that. I didn't mean to insult you at all, my reply is for all users
dealing with the same issues.

Sure I knew it wasn't meant any other way at all, just I was meaning "easy
for someone to do" rather would have been a better way
of expressing it, sorry for any offence it was completely unintentional,
your help and everybody elses is much valued and much appreciated.

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

|
| | > This article will explain it Sash.
| > Differences between a Quick format and a regular format during a "clean"
| > installation of WinXP
| > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302686
| >
| > --
| > Regards,
| > Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
| > http://dts-l.org/
| >
| >
| Ahh thanks!! Thats what I need, I am here on the ng's recovering from a
| virus infection, a bad one, funny thing was is that it was thanks to the
NG
| I discovered it, I was adviced to use a firewall and during the course of
| trying the firewall I discovered a virus because it was calling home,
every
| single antivirus device I had installed failed to detect it. How about
| that???
|
| AVG failed to detect it
| Etrust failed to detect it
| Spybot Failed to detct it
| Adaware Failed to detect it
|
| Only zone alarm and sygate failed to detect it. Now I am never again going
| to be vulnerable.

I hope this is read by some of those people who think they're safe without a
software firewall because they're behhind a router.

 

[Steve N.]

Well, thats easy for you to say Kelly, but I tried everything and at the end
of the day someone with less experience might find it faster to do a clean
install rather than spend hours tweaking around or learning how to adjust
registry keys etc.etc. don't you think?

Sash, sorry for jumping in here, but I've seen so many posts from you
concerning this and unfortunately haven't the time to read them all, but
I would like to point out that in the several threads I have read from
you nowhere have I seen you tell us WHAT VIRUS it is? And if all the
tools you've tried failed to detect it then how do you know it is even a
virus at all?

And Kelly is absolutely correct, eliminating a virus almost never
requires a format. What IS required is the correct identification of
said virus and then appropriate measures can be taken.

Steve

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Well, thats easy for you to say Kelly, but I tried everything

Since you apparently didn't succeed in getting rid of the virus,
clearly you did *not* try everything.

Did you tell us what the virus was, and ask for help here?

and at
the end of the day someone with less experience might find it
faster
to do a clean install rather than spend hours tweaking around
or
learning how to adjust registry keys etc.etc. don't you think?

I don't want to answer for Kelly, for I'll tell you what *I*
think. No, I think reformatting and reinstalling is hardly ever
faster and may well get you in more trouble than finding out how
to properly get rid of the virus.

You have to restore all your data backups, you have to reinstall
all your programs, you have to reinstall all the Windows and
application updates,you have to locate and install all the needed
drivers for your system, you have to recustomize Windows and all
your apps to work the way you're comfortable with.

Besides all those things being time-consuming and troublesome,
you may have trouble with some of them: can you find all your
application CDs? Can you find all the needed installation codes?
Do you have data backups to restore? Do you even remember all the
customizations and tweaks you may have installed to make
everything work the way you like?


--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

 

[NobodyMan]

When you do a "quick format", all it does is allocate a section of
your HD and mark it as usable. There is no testing to make sure there
aren't any bad sectors.

Wrong. A quick format basically just erases the File Allocation Table
for a partition, making the OS think all the clusters are available if
they still have data on them. It doesn't erase the actual data.

A full format does this along with other drive tests.

 

[Kelly]

No problem and appreciate your response. )

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com