WD5000AAKS - Is it Advanced Format drive

[chakraps]

Windows XP SP3 reports it as WD5000AAKS-32TMA0. The drive was purchased around March 2008. It had earlier been used as secondary storage. Recently it was formatted as XP boot drive. Only a single C: partition exists on it so far. I was browsing the WD website to get a copy of Acronis True Image and found information on Advanced Format drives.

I couldn't find for sure if mine is Advanced Format or not. I was wondering if someone here might know about it. Should I be doing any align operation for XP before I clone/backup this drive.

TIA

 

[RebateMonger]

They didn't make Advanced Format disks in 2008.

 

[chakraps]

Okay, thanks.

Just curious, are the Advanced Format drives marked/labeled so on the drive sticker. Wondering how a buyer can recognize one.

 

[RebateMonger]

WDC says this:

"How do I know if a drive has Advanced Format technology?

WD drives with Advanced Format technology include special
installation information on the drive label, so be sure to read the
label on your drive before installing it."

http://products.wdc.com/library/Flyer/ENG/2178-771123.pdf

 

[AtlantaBob]

Okay, thanks.

Just curious, are the Advanced Format drives marked/labeled so on the drive sticker. Wondering how a buyer can recognize one.

I just bought one and it is pretty clearly labeled on the sticker.... As far as I know, the only AF drives are WD 1TB + drives....

No idea if other manufacturers use it.

 

[RebateMonger]

I just bought one and it is pretty clearly labeled on the sticker.... As far as I know, the only AF drives are WD 1TB + drives....

In that link I left above, WDC lists all the disks with AF. I purchased a WD 800 GB SATA disk a few months ago and it's Advanced Format. There are 640 GB and 750 GB ones as well.

 

[ayam2k7]

Can anyone say what is the price diff between the normal and the AF drives. And also any specific adv of it.
First post of mine, so if anything is wrong correct me and let me know.

 

[chakraps]

Can anyone say what is the price diff between the normal and the AF drives. And also any specific adv of it.
First post of mine, so if anything is wrong correct me and let me know.

Looks like it helps to store more data in the same available space (AF 500GB > Regular 500GB). Plus possibly other benefits too. But I wouldn't think WDC charge a premium just for adding AF technology.

 

[RebateMonger]

Can anyone say what is the price diff between the normal and the AF drives. And also any specific adv of it.

The prices are pretty much identical. If you are sure you won't be using the disk with XP or earlier, I'd lean towards the Advanced Format disk. IN THEORY, the advanced error correction capability should lessen uncorrectable errors. I've seen no evidence that this actually works, but it sounds good.

 

[Nothinman]

The prices are pretty much identical. If you are sure you won't be using the disk with XP or earlier, I'd lean towards the Advanced Format disk. IN THEORY, the advanced error correction capability should lessen uncorrectable errors. I've seen no evidence that this actually works, but it sounds good.

Indeed. Although as drives get bigger that will probably matter more and more.