How Do You Format Your Magnetic HDD?

[deathman20]

How do you format your NEW Mechanical HDD's and why do you do it that way?

Just curious since I've seen people doing it a few ways.

I personally do a quick format. Just curious to what other people do with there HDD's since I see a lot do a full format. Is there an advantage of doing it one way or another or is it just Time?

[thideras]

Format in preparation for what?

If I'm changing the OS, I always do a quick format. In my 80+ reinstalls of Windows, I have never done the long format unless by accident (which then I hit restart and do quick!).

If I'm selling the drives, I use a much different method and I won't divulge exactly what I do; I'm paranoid like that. I use Darin's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) and run at least 15 passes. Including zeroing and random number streams along with a few other passes thrown in. It usually takes a few days to format the drives I sell, got an old Dell that runs it when I need. It isn't like I store anything illegal, I just don't want people reading my information.

[redduc900]

By performing a Full format each time, just to make sure the drive(s) don't contain any bad sectors prior to the install.

Edit: Per the addition of the word NEW in the original post. In as far as formatting a new drive, the same procedure applies... FULL format.

[deathman20]

Yeah forgot to add the NEW part poll. NEW DRIVES

[thideras]

I do quick format then run hard drive tests (http://thideras.com/images/servers/phenom_file_server/testsrunning.png) multiple times to make sure it works.

[SkiBum1207]

I do quick format then run hard drive tests (http://thideras.com/images/servers/phenom_file_server/testsrunning.png) multiple times to make sure it works.

are you running all 7 instances off of one drive?!

[crosshairs]

are you running all 7 instances off of one drive?!

Im gonna guess since he is running a Dell Perc controller that he has multiple drives in there..

[thideras]

are you running all 7 instances off of one drive?!One instance per drive, I had 8 1tb Hitachi drives for my server arrive, one was dead. Sorry for not clarifying.

[darkcow]

quick... I don't have time to wait when I have to install games!

[CGR]

New drives I use quick format. If it is a used drive, I will do a full format.

[Super Nade]

You might want to clarify if you are referring to SSDs or magnetic drives? :)

[doz]

Does anyone debug harddrives still? I used to do that on every install lol. Had the whole script memorized.

[Stilletto]

You might want to clarify if you are referring to SSDs or magnetic drives? :)

Ok..that would really open up a can of worms now wouldn't it :D

New Drive = Always full format the first time to make sure it isn't a dud
After that, unless it gives me reason to be suspect I will do a quick format from then on.

[4GHZ_or_bust]

Same. full format first time to rule out lemon, quick format afterward as needed.

[MadMan007]

I do a full format and a scan with HDTune on new drives, or even used ones for that matter. After that If I reinstall etc I just do quick - once it's up and running bad sectors are taken care of automatically so that doesn't worry me.

[ANTEC900]

Quick Format (I Do Not Like To Wait All Day)

[dylskee]

Quick, I'm not very patient! :)

[bchur83]

I almost always do a quick format. The only times I have done Full formats is when I have a questionable drive, the full format will usually fail if it has corrupt sectors.

[freeagent]

quickly!

10 seconds and bam!

proceed to dump dvd :thup:

[BossBorot]

I used to full format every time I got a new drive. However when I throw my new drives into my WHS box it doesn't look like it does a full format and recently all of my storage has been going into the WHS

[dippy_skoodlez]

I'm the only "other".... so I'll explain.

Quick HFS+ :D

[Nebulous]

Full format. I like my drives nice n clean :)

[Douken]

Full format. I like my drives nice n clean :)

+1

[vlaszlo]

quick format for new drives, full format + windows install on other PC for used drives.
I have 2-3 drives that fail full format ( io-error, parity-error ) they sometimes corrupt the data, but can be used for non important stuff.

[EarthDog]

I do a FULL format nearly everytime. As I understand it, and I could be wrong, but doesnt a full format 'zero' everything out as opposed to a quick that doesnt?

[dippy_skoodlez]

I do a FULL format nearly everytime. As I understand it, and I could be wrong, but doesnt a full format 'zero' everything out as opposed to a quick that doesnt?

Yes, but it's not required. A quick format just wipes the FAT, and you just overwrite data with new data instead of overwriting zeros.

[Bobnova]

I do a quick format generally. Waiting three years for a 1tb to format is just silly.

[Quailane]

quick format for new drives, full format + windows install on other PC for used drives.
I have 2-3 drives that fail full format ( io-error, parity-error ) they sometimes corrupt the data, but can be used for non important stuff.

Can't those erroring sectors be locked out?

[4GHZ_or_bust]

I do a quick format generally. Waiting three years for a 1tb to format is just silly.

3 years? It's time for you to give up that trusty ol' Commodore 64.



:santa:

For a long full format, just start em before you go to bed.

[Randyman...]

I generaly do a full format. Obviously, for RAID-5/6 arrays, you must initialize the array which should also weed out any bad sectors IIRC - but I still do a "Full Format" on my RAID arrays, too.

On single drives, I usually run Spinrite at Level 3 ("Refresh the surfaces") my earliest convenience to really dig in and knock out any bad sectors, and then I run Spinrite approx bi-monthy or so to keep them nice and reliable.

My X25M SSD's get a quick format ;)

:cool:

[Brando]

Sorry I clicked before reading your post. I clicked full before seeing the part about it being a new unused hard drive. If nothing has ever been on it then quick is fine. Otherwise full to avoid unwanted files on my new install.

[turbohans]

if its new i consider a full to be like a breakin, after that quick is cool for like the next 30 formats. :)

[vlaszlo]

Can't those erroring sectors be locked out?

No, because it is random. I dont know yet the couse of it.

[Hookem]

On new drives I always run the manufacturers drive test utility...Short then long.

Then when loading Windozzzz...The full format...Always.

On Windozzz reloads...Manufacturers "quick" format to wipe the boot-strap...Short and long drive test.

If it is one of my box's I will do the "quick format"...If it is a box that is new to me...Full format.

I am very patient...Especially when working on client box's where my name and reputation is on the line.

[hansen]

doesnt a full format 'zero' everything out as opposed to a quick that doesnt?

Only in Vista or newer

[thideras]

Only in Vista or newerAny "full format" will regardless of the OS :eh?:

[hansen]

Any "full format" will regardless of the OS :eh?:

No. A "full format" in Windows has always been quick format + bad sector checking - until Vista.

Edit... a couple of links:

difference in xp: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302686
change in vista: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941961