How can I low level format a hard drive?

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OM

Can someone tell me how I casn low level format a hard drive?
I've been having all sorts of problems with my PC and think I have the
source of my problems nailed down to the hard drive.

I've formatted and installed a fresh copy of XP.
But no luck... the system just keeps on rebooting. : (
Everything else seems fine including the memory.

I thought the next option would be to low level format the hard drive?
Would this do me any good?
How long will it take?
Is it a worthwhile option to go for?
Or should u buy a new hard disk?

Thanks.


OM
 
OM said:
Can someone tell me how I casn low level format a hard drive?
I've been having all sorts of problems with my PC and think I have the
source of my problems nailed down to the hard drive.

I've formatted and installed a fresh copy of XP.
But no luck... the system just keeps on rebooting. : (
Everything else seems fine including the memory.

I thought the next option would be to low level format the hard drive?
Would this do me any good?
How long will it take?
Is it a worthwhile option to go for?
Or should u buy a new hard disk?

Thanks.


OM
Click to expand...

"format c:"?

As long as you don't use the /q switch for a quick-format, you'll be
doing a low-level format AS USUAL. I think.
 
In message <[email protected]> "OM"
Can someone tell me how I casn low level format a hard drive?
I've been having all sorts of problems with my PC and think I have the
source of my problems nailed down to the hard drive.

I've formatted and installed a fresh copy of XP.
But no luck... the system just keeps on rebooting. : (
Everything else seems fine including the memory.

I thought the next option would be to low level format the hard drive?
Would this do me any good?
How long will it take?
Is it a worthwhile option to go for?
Or should u buy a new hard disk?
Click to expand...

With most drives there is no way to low level format. However, this
shouldn't be required.

If the disk is physically failing, replace it outright don't try to work
around the bad sectors.

If the disk hasn't physically failed, wiping and starting over from
scratch will be sufficient.
 
As long as you don't use the /q switch for a quick-format, you'll be doing a
Then what the hell is a low-level format? You format or you don't!
Click to expand...

FORMAT C: is not low level.

Low level formatting is what the drive manufacturer software does to the drive.
It's also known as 'zero'-ing the drive.

The DOS command FORMAT C: is the process used AFTER running FDISK.

H
 
Hank said:
FORMAT C: is not low level.

Low level formatting is what the drive manufacturer software does to the drive.
It's also known as 'zero'-ing the drive.

The DOS command FORMAT C: is the process used AFTER running FDISK.

H
Click to expand...

Oh.
 
Can someone tell me how I casn low level format a hard drive?
I've been having all sorts of problems with my PC and think I have the
source of my problems nailed down to the hard drive.

I've formatted and installed a fresh copy of XP.
But no luck... the system just keeps on rebooting. : (
Everything else seems fine including the memory.

I thought the next option would be to low level format the hard drive?
Would this do me any good?
How long will it take?
Is it a worthwhile option to go for?
Or should u buy a new hard disk?

Thanks.


OM
Click to expand...



Look around on the manufacturer's website. They should have some sort of
tool for doing this.

The only reason to do it is if you keep getting more and more bad
sectors, the low level format can be successful in stopping that
business.

Check your temps, might be a heat issue.
 
a big magnet that should take care of sector zero, lol joking. You should
get a new HDD. If using Fdisk and or Delpart won't solve your problem the
HDD is bad.
 
I screwed up and installed a sata drive with both power cables hooked up.
Took a low level format to straighten it out. Cost me $95.00 at the local
fix it store. Runs fine now.
 
OM said:
Can someone tell me how I casn low level format a hard drive?
I've been having all sorts of problems with my PC and think I have the
source of my problems nailed down to the hard drive.

I've formatted and installed a fresh copy of XP.
But no luck... the system just keeps on rebooting. : (
Everything else seems fine including the memory.

I thought the next option would be to low level format the hard drive?
Would this do me any good?
How long will it take?
Is it a worthwhile option to go for?
Or should u buy a new hard disk?
Click to expand...

The lowest level of formatting is done by the disk manufacturer. It
starts with a totally blank disk and writes one track, the "index track"
, that has exactly one pulse per revolution. The next level also
requires special equipment and serves to write individual sectors on all
tracks on all surfaces. These are typically 512-bytes of data plus
required header and trailer.

The first level that you have any control is to use FDISK to carve up
the bulk disk into partitions. This means allocating so many cylinders
(a given track on all surfaces) to various partition.

Next, each operating system such as DOS, Windows, Linux, etc. has a
FORMAT program. This organizes the sectors into file system-specific
structures. DOS has its clusters of sectors, UNIX used to chain
sectors together on a free list, NTFS does something else.

Above this is the level of files. Of course, this is user-dependent.

It is very unlikely that your disk has a low-level problem. Borrow a
substitute as a test. Or buy a real cheapie. Maybe a second hand
computer shop will provide one for a few bucks.
 
A true low level format requires special hardware and writes alignment tracks and sector addresses. The closest you can do to a low level format is a utility, usually available from the drive manufacturer that will "zero the disk". Usually some bit pattern other than zeros is used. This will overwrite all data on the disk, including boot loader and partition table. Some will give you the option to save the reallocation tables, in which case you should save them. The main reasons to do this is to erase a drive before disposing of it or to remove partitions that your partition manager can't deal with.
 
Can someone tell me how I casn low level format a hard drive?
I've been having all sorts of problems with my PC and think I have the
source of my problems nailed down to the hard drive.
Click to expand...


On occasions I have received donated drives which have been
partitioned with some obscure file system that prevents normal
formatting in Windows.

I have therefore, as a matter of routine, low-level formatted mosr
drives before Fdisk (partition) and format.

Find out the manufacturer of your Hard Drive (ie look at the label on
it) and download their Hard Drive utility.

Use this to make a floppy disk.

Start up the system to boot from that floppy and the utility will
normally confirm that the disk and utility match.

There are usually a number of options included low-level format (often
referred to as "write to zero"). Make your choice and let the software
do its job.

Some older drives may no longer be supported by the manufacturers
latest Utility software but they may have archives of older utilities
or an appropriately worded web search may prove worthwhile.

Over a period of time I have accumulated floppies for most makes.

KM
 
| The next level also
|requires special equipment and serves to write individual sectors on all
|tracks on all surfaces. These are typically 512-bytes of data plus
|required header and trailer.

Note that FORMAT still does this for a floppy disk,

P:hil
 
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