New Hard Drives..

[[GSV]Trig]

Who here does a full format when you get a new drive and who just does a quick format?

Just wondered as these days with the increase in drive sizes if there were people out there that used the quick format function instead of the full format...

[dave87]

Full Format if data going on it, Quick if its just windows.

[Funkstar]

usually a full format, just to be on the safe side.

[kalniel]

Can't remember, probably quick format, assuming the low level has been done by the factory.

[merdat]

I always do a full format as well.

[Harkin]

I do a quick format before I do a fresh install of Windows, dont know if thers any diff between the 2 besides time? Full format takes hours tho..

[Clunk]

I used to always to a full, but have done a quick format on the last few with no difference in the time it takes a maxtor to die.

[dave87]

Maxtors gone downhill recently? Mine are running fine....though they are the older ones.

[Agent]

Maxtors gone downhill recently? Mine are running fine....though they are the older ones.

Not really, clunk just hates them

Always a full format on the first use - some manufactures do a check on each sector the first time it is written to, which can slow it down at the beginning

[MadduckUK]

used to full format, but after quick formatting a few times it became apparent that it does the job just fine. /Q ftw

[IAmATeaf]

If it's going into my machine then I always do a full format. If I have time then I also sometimes do a full erase using killdisk to make sure the drives 100%.

If I'm doing the install for somebody else then I usually do a quick format.

[GSte]

dont know if thers any diff between the 2 besides time?

In a full format it runs chkdsk as well as removing the files.

[aidanjt]

Format doesn't actually removes the files, just (re)sets the file allocation table (inodes in Linux) and journal format in the case of NTFS and other journaled filesystems, which essentially makes them lost, but the bits are still there until they're overwritten by the filesystem.

But yeah, full 'format' performs a chkdsk on the platters to check for bad sectors, a good practice on first install but not essential as hard drives are usually bad sector free on new disks since manufacturers perform low level formats in the factory.

[Agent]

....since manufacturers perform low level formats in the factory.

I should hope so too, as without it the drive wouldn't work

Low-level formats can *only* be done at the factor on today's drives

[dave87]

Low-level formats can *only* be done at the factor on today's drives

Hard Drive + Magnet (or degausser) = low level format. and if its a Maxtor, then might even extend its life expectancy.

[Agent]

Hard Drive + Magnet (or degausser) = low level format. and if its a Maxtor, then might even extend its life expectancy.

Nar, that's just destroying the drive mate
Certainly not a low-level format

What's with all the Maxtor bashing at the moment? Seems like the same people, saying the same thing for as long as I can remember!