NTSF: Whats the difference between fast format and normal

[XRdirtHead]

Is there a reason to not use the fast?

 

[lucky9]

Technically, no. But I've had trouble with installs on disks that the fast option is supposed to take care of. And it didn't. I always use the fast first, if it works I've saved some time. If no, it doesn't take much time except the install and trouble I've had in the past. I've found that it pays overall to use the regular format and a clean install. The repair install is good for and existing working-up-to-that-point installation.

The boot times will get a lot better. It just takes a few boots and normal use (for you) and it learns what it needs to do to save time. I'm at a little over a minute a present. I do run a (at start-up) fairly lean system. :clock: :wine:

 

[MrChad]

As far as I know, a "normal" format will scan every sector of the hard drive before applying the format. Fast format skips this step. If you are fairly certain that your hard drive does not have problems, a fast format should be more than sufficient.

 

[teerex20]

fast format only cleans first and last 300 mb of harddrive

 

[EeyoreX]

As far as I know, a "normal" format will scan every sector of the hard drive before applying the format. Fast format skips this step. If you are fairly certain that your hard drive does not have problems, a fast format should be more than sufficient.

That is correct. The only difference between a full format and a quick format is the full format scans the drive, sector by sector, to check for bad/damaged areas. Both formats remove all files from the partition formatted, not just the first and last 300 MB. MS Knowledge Base article.

\Dan

 

[Nothinman]

fast format only cleans first and last 300 mb of harddrive

fast format doesn't 'clean' anything, it just writes a new MFT.

 

[XRdirtHead]

Thanks!

 

[lucky9]

Of course the screen says the first 300meg etc. It must be lying.

 

[Nothinman]

What screen?

 

[rmrf]

I used fast format once when reinstalling an os and will never do it again. the stupid thing left my old folder structure in place so when I booted into windows everything I thought I erased was still there. I always use normal format, no matter how big the drive.

 

[Nothinman]

You must have done something wrong then, a quick format will not leave anything in the filesystem.

 

[EeyoreX]

Of course the screen says the first 300meg etc. It must be lying.

Yeah. What screen?

You must have done something wrong then, a quick format will not leave anything in the filesystem.

Agreed. Read the link I provided in my earlier post. It plainly states the differences between a fast and normal format. In fact, here. Happy Holidays. A little late, but I still saved us the effort of scrolling.

\Dan

 

[VIAN]

It's NTFS. From what I've read, normal format completely erases the HDD, but fast doesn't do this just overwrites on it.

 

[XRdirtHead]

During a "clean" installation of Windows XP, you are prompted to choose from the following format options:
Format the partition using the NTFS file system (Quick)
Format the partition using the FAT file system (Quick)
Format the partition using the NTFS file system
Format the partition using the FAT file system
Leave the current file system intact (no changes)
This article describes the differences between a Quick format and a regular format.
MORE INFORMATION
When you choose to run a regular format on a volume, files are removed from the volume you are formatting and the hard disk is then scanned for bad sectors. The scan for bad sectors is responsible for the majority of the time it takes to format a volume.

If you choose the Quick format option, format removes files from the partition, but does not scan the disk for bad sectors. This option should only be used if your hard disk has been previously formatted and you are sure that your hard disk is not damaged.

If you installed Windows on a partition that was formatted by using the Quick format option, you can also check your disk by using the chkdsk /r command after the installation of Windows has completed.

 

[EeyoreX]

It's NTFS. From what I've read, normal format completely erases the HDD, but fast doesn't do this just overwrites on it.

Read more. The above post is directly from the Microsoft Knowledgebase article I linked to. Twice now. Here are the pertinent points:

When you choose to run a regular format on a volume, files are removed from the volume you are formatting and the hard disk is then scanned for bad sectors. The scan for bad sectors is responsible for the majority of the time it takes to format a volume.

Translation: Files are removed/deleted from the partition formatted. In addition, the physical drive is scanned for errors.

If you choose the Quick format option, format removes files from the partition, but does not scan the disk for bad sectors.

Translation: Files are removed/deleted from the partition formatted.

Notice the similarities? I've put them in bold. Both processes "just overwrite" the data. They do the same thing.

\Dan

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
You must have done something wrong then, a quick format will not leave anything in the filesystem.

Maybe his is talking about FAT stuff. I know that a quick format (format c: /q) just rewrites a new fat table, it doesn't touch the rest of the drive. So that the ones and zeros are still there. Then occasionally if you do the same exact install as you did before you ended up with things that overlapped older versions in some weird way. So you'd end up with weird text in the wrong spot or corrupted files. Or something like that, it's been a while, pretty rare for that to happen.