Format hard drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter Daniel
  • Start date Start date
D

Daniel

Hi

I have a Vista Ultimate DVD, I want to do a full format of my hard drive,
the Vista DVD only does a quick format, or so it seems, it is over in less
than a minute.

How do I do a full format before I install?

thanks

Daniel
 
You should not have to worry about that.

A quick format generally wipes (recreating a fresh) Directory Entry Table
and does not over write any data. The effect of a quick format is similar to
ripping out the chapter (or index) pages from a book but the book itself is
fine. This makes the data remaining on the disk difficult (but not
impossible) to use. As soon as you start something new on the disk e.g.
install Vista or saving any new data, the action will over write whatever
was on the disk.

In the good old days of DOS there was a utility called UNFORMAT where the
DET and other FAT info was written on the other end of the disk but the real
data was not deleted. That meant that if you wanted to 'unformat' the disk
after an accidental format, you could and all data was back. BUT, that only
worked if you did not do anything else after the accidental format.

Hope it helps.
 
Thanks, but what I want to do is format, NOT UNFORMAT, before I install the
OS.

thanks

Daniel
 
Granted. Your question was more about quick or not quick format. If you do a
new install it does not matter.
 
I guess an explanation would have helped,
I need to format the drive because I have a problem with HDD tests coming up
in error on some passes and I need to eliminate file format errors.

thanks

Daniel
 
Ah, that's slightly different. Is your disk still OK? Because if you get
errors it may mean the disk is busy packing up.
 
like what?

cheers

Daniel
Richard G. Harper said:
You don't do it with any tool in Vista setup. Maybe a third-party boot CD
before the install.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Daniel said:
Hi

I have a Vista Ultimate DVD, I want to do a full format of my hard drive,
the Vista DVD only does a quick format, or so it seems, it is over in
less than a minute.

How do I do a full format before I install?

thanks

Daniel
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Rick Rogers said:
Hi Daniel,

If a drive diagnostic is showing errors on the drive, then replace it. Doing
a full format isn't going to fix it.
Click to expand...


That's 100% right. Go to the website of the HD's mfg and get their
diagnostic utility...then run the full test.
If there are any errors at all...the drive must be replaced!
 
Rick

I understand that but going through a process of elimination and trying
different things I get a clearer picture of what the problem really is.
Last time I replaced a hard drive on professional advice it turned out to be
a cable defect, I now have a perfectly good backup drive after I was told I
had to replace the drive.

cheers

Daniel
 
Google for it!

Daniel said:
like what?

cheers

Daniel
Richard G. Harper said:
You don't do it with any tool in Vista setup. Maybe a third-party boot CD
before the install.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Daniel said:
Hi

I have a Vista Ultimate DVD, I want to do a full format of my hard drive,
the Vista DVD only does a quick format, or so it seems, it is over in
less than a minute.

How do I do a full format before I install?

thanks

Daniel
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Will do, sorry, I thought you might recommend one.

regards

Daniel
Mick Murphy said:
Google for it!

Daniel said:
like what?

cheers

Daniel
Richard G. Harper said:
You don't do it with any tool in Vista setup. Maybe a third-party boot
CD
before the install.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Hi

I have a Vista Ultimate DVD, I want to do a full format of my hard
drive,
the Vista DVD only does a quick format, or so it seems, it is over in
less than a minute.

How do I do a full format before I install?

thanks

Daniel
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

Well, armed with that knowledge it's logical to assume you've already
checked that? While that's a potential, it doesn't happen too often that a
cable unseats itself unless the system's been moved recently, or that work
was done inside the tower.

A drive that fails a diagnostic is generally a candidate for replacement,
and too often I've seen that advice ignored in favor of "fixes" that did
nothing more than temporarily hide the problem, eventually resulting in loss
of data.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Daniel, usually you can find a full format routine in the same diagnostic
tool that I mentioned elsewhere in this thread. The best source is the drive
manufacturer.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

Daniel said:
like what?

cheers

Daniel
Richard G. Harper said:
You don't do it with any tool in Vista setup. Maybe a third-party boot
CD before the install.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Daniel said:
Hi

I have a Vista Ultimate DVD, I want to do a full format of my hard
drive, the Vista DVD only does a quick format, or so it seems, it is
over in less than a minute.

How do I do a full format before I install?

thanks

Daniel
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Rick

I know what you are saying, last time I had the problem I used Event Viewer
to see what the problem really was but as I could not start Windows I could
not access EV.

But since the drive would not format I am now convinced and have returned
the drive for a replacement.

cheers

Daniel
 
http://www.google.com/

Many utilities out there, too many to list here.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Daniel said:
like what?

cheers

Daniel
Richard G. Harper said:
You don't do it with any tool in Vista setup. Maybe a third-party boot
CD before the install.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Daniel said:
Hi

I have a Vista Ultimate DVD, I want to do a full format of my hard
drive, the Vista DVD only does a quick format, or so it seems, it is
over in less than a minute.

How do I do a full format before I install?

thanks

Daniel
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top