Low Level format

[The Coolest]

Hey guys, my 2Gig WD HDD on the old comp just had a heart attack or somethig! I baraly repartitioned it and it takes for ever to format it. I want to Low Level Format it. I dont have this option in niether of the BIOSes, is there a program that can do LLF? If so could you post a link please?
I'm selling old comp w/ this HDD so I need it a live! Thx

[Jon]

Don't believe WD offers a low level format utility anymore as people were mucking up their drives with it years ago.

I've done it a couple of times using the DOS DEBUG command but I don't know if you feel comfortable in using that or not...you can ruin your drive for good if you screw up.

I have a couple of DEBUG scripts you can use and even an automated script that I made for low level formatting. Only thing is, if it doesn't work your hard drive may no longer work at all.

[jazztrumpet216]

This is a link to the download section of the Western Digital Website. They have a utility you can download into a folder which will load these files on to a floppy that takes care of a lot of stuff, including LLF. Look under the "Diagnostics" section.

Western Digital Download (http://www.westerndigital.com/service/ftp/drives.html#dlgtools)

[Jon]

Originally posted by jazztrumpet216
This is a link to the download section of the Western Digital Website. They have a utility you can download on to a floppy that takes care of a lot of stuff, including LLF.

Western Digital Download (http://www.westerndigital.com/service/ftp/drives.html#dlgtools)

Cool...seems like someone took their LLF utility off. Ah well, it's all good. Least they still have one for you to use.

Got to be safer than my DEBUG commands, haha.

[The Coolest]

I have the EZ-Diskatte and the diagnostics couldn't help the drive, I need a working LLF software...

[jazztrumpet216]

Originally posted by The Coolest
I have the EZ-Diskatte and the diagnostics couldn't help the drive, I need a working LLF software...

I do too, and I don't believe that utility is on there. I think only the 1st utility on the page is on there. Not totally sure on that, but I've also had problems with the EZ-Disk they gave me and had to download a new one from that link I just posted. I dunno, but anything that WD puts out is probably safer than aftermarket software. They probably just didn't put that on their EZ-Disk cause they don't want Mr.X no nothing computer user to stumble upon that and screw up their drive forever. Just my $.02

[The Coolest]

B U M P

[JigPu]

Well, I know that Spinrite will LLF a drive, but that's rather expensive.... I wish I could offer more help.

Mabey you'll have to use DEBUG after all :eek:

BTW: What IS a low-level format?? What is the diffrence between it, a normal format, and zeroing (unless it is just another term for zeroing...)?

JigPu

[muddocktor]

They have a low level format proggie on my Abit KG7 driver disk. I don't know if it's any good or not, but I'd be glad to send it to you if you want to try it.

[jazztrumpet216]

Low level formatting is another term for zeroing. Unlike a regular format, a low level format will return a drive to it's factory-new condition... it will need to be partitioned and then formatted before it can be used. A regular format just clears data. Generally LLF's are used in a situation like Coolest's... theres some error that can't be identified and it needs to be LLFed to return it to a condition in which it can be used.

[The Coolest]

Originally posted by Jon
Don't believe WD offers a low level format utility anymore as people were mucking up their drives with it years ago.

I've done it a couple of times using the DOS DEBUG command but I don't know if you feel comfortable in using that or not...you can ruin your drive for good if you screw up.

I have a couple of DEBUG scripts you can use and even an automated script that I made for low level formatting. Only thing is, if it doesn't work your hard drive may no longer work at all.

Could you please explain to me how to use it? And send the file/tell me what exactly to do?

[The Coolest]

The HDD is officialy dead:mad:
Gone to WD HDD heaven I guess... :rolleyes:

[Jon]

Ack!

Well, I suppose if it's dead then what I would've given you would have done the same thing, more than likely.

At least I don't have to feel guilty about killing it, haha.

Sorry about the loss though. I had an old WD die on me last week too.