Do the quick format. There really is no difference from a use perspective, but it could take a long time.
Doesn't a full format check the drive for bad sectors?
The Windows installer programs since Win2000 offer the opportunity to Quick Format. The Format command itself offers both "quick" and "full" options.
If you don't have time to wait for a full format, it's pretty low-risk to do a Quick Format for the install of the OS and initial programs then do a chkdsk /r (at the Windows Command Prompt in Administrator mode) when convenient (overnight?) to check the disk for errors. That's what I do when I'm time-limited.
Doesn't chkdsk only scan for file system errors, not hardware errors?
2TB Caviar Green will take ~6-7 hours. 7200rpm drives might be slightly faster. Maybe ~5 hours if I had to guess.
Question I am in the prosess of formatting my new external 2TB hard drive and I am using USB not eSATA. I am 5hr in. how much longer do you think I have I am guessing it will take 28hrs.
Update: I did a 3rd drive and it took 6hr 39min. It is inside the PC, using SATA. It started out fast (est 5hr) but estimated time increased as time progressed. I had programs running during this time; because this hard drive was formatted while inside PC, this may have slowed the formatting.
All 3 drives are the same. The USB w/docking station took about 4 times longer so SATA wins here.
These Samsung EcoGreen F3 HD203WI 2TB 5400 have a good reputation. Should I run any diagnostics, surface scans etc or just start using them?
Thanks
Really the best thing to do is run spinrite on the drive at level 4. Spinrite will find bad sectors and check them out. its much more comprehensive than chkdsk or 'full format' other than that, just go ahead and start running the drive.
spinrite is the best harddrive maintenance and recovery tool. the author, gibson, recommends running it once on a brand new drive, then a few times a year there after.