What's Low Level Format?

[Acoshi]

What exactly does a "low level format" do? Does it just erase the items on the hard drives or does it also erase everything on the computer including the motherboard programs? Also does it erase the partions on the hard drive?

Thanks

 

[lucky9]

It writes 1's to the entire disk. Which erases everything on the disk. Everything.

 

[Acoshi]

This this a good option to choose when your hard disk is corrupted?

 

[Klosters]

The HDD's maker should have diagnostic tools available on its Web site. The closest thing to a "low level format" that a home user should do is to write all 1's on the drive. If the hard drive is acting weird, a "low level format" isn't a bad idea. You'll need to partition and format the drive after writing all 1's on the HDD. You lose all data on the drive after a Low Level Format.

 

[Acoshi]

Right now my HD is already partioned and formatted. How would I format and partition the computer after low level format? Would I load WinXP on the system again and it will automatically load the format and partioner?

 

[compudog]

Acoshi, why are you considering a "low level format?" READ THIS If you have a boot sector virus or something else like that, then maybe you need to.

After you perform a "low level format," you will need to boot to your XP CD and have it prepare the drive (set partition type (NTFS or FAT32) ) and format it for use. Then you need to reinstall the OS and all drivers/updates/patches etc.

Good luck!

PS
Most of the low-level format utilities can be found on the drive manufacturers web sites.

 

[Acoshi]

I am considering a "low level" format because WinXP doesn't seem to start up when I turn the computer on. And when I try to reinstall it, a blue screen comes up and tells me to check my drives for viruses. I do and it still doesn't recognize the hard drive so what I was going to compleletly sweep the hard drive clean and start fresh and reload XP.

 

[lucky9]

That's the reason that I do. Also some of the low-level utilities (Partition Magic, Norton Ghost etc.) put things on the disk that are difficult or impossible to remove.

The only disadvantage I've found is that it takes awhile to run. I just start it and let it run overnight. And, yes, WinXP will redo the partition and format of the disk. I'd recommend a better antivirus than what your're using. Or leaving it on auto-protect or whatever it calls auto protection. You can always disable it when needed for installs, etc.

Nowadays I LLF a brand new disk right out of the box....It's a long story.

 

[EeyoreX]

A real "low-level format" cannot be done by a home user. It is done with equipment by the manufacturer. What people commonly (though incorrectly) refer to as a LLF these days is writing of zeros (not ones) to the hard drive. That being said, what people (and some manufacturers) are calling a low-level format (writing zeros0 is a good way to try and fix a bad hard drive, when all else has failed. I have seen the problem you described sometimes caused by a loose or bad IDE ribbon cable. Check to ensure it is plugged in well, and try a new one if you have one available.

Also some of the low-level utilities (Partition Magic, Norton Ghost etc.) put things on the disk that are difficult or impossible to remove.

Neither of these utilities are "low-level format" utilities. partitionMagic is a partition manager/resizer. Ghost is a hard drive imaging/backup application. And neither "put things" on the hard drive. At least not things that aren't supposed to be there, like your data (Ghost) or your partition information (PartitionMagic). And anything claiming to do the job of "low-level formatting" would be putting nothing on the drive, because it is removing everything from it...

Nowadays I LLF a brand new disk right out of the box.

That is, of course, your perogative. keeping in mind that 1) a reallow-level format was performed on the drive before it ever left the manufacturer and that 2) the "imitation" LLF is totally unnecessary, as there is nothing on the drive to wipe at this point. It's your time however, and I won't try to stop you. Just saying it is totally unneeded...

\Dan

 

[lucky9]

 

[lucky9]

a real "low-level format" ? for purely informational purposes, is done by the factory. The program that I've used (Maxtor) is labeled such. And I'm not so "precise" as to require the difference between 0's and 1's to be cared about. Since positives or negatives are (in this instance) not a requirement for the disk being in a state that is uniformly one or the other.
It makes no difference at all.

As for the Partition Magic and Ghost comment, read what I typed. It's self-explanatory. If not, just let me know and I'll explain what the sequence of words means in English.

Regarding the "put things on a disk" comment I made. Use PM before you make a statement like that. You'll find that it does indeed put info on the disk that is NOT a part of Windows.

Also, in point of fact, there are times when windows will not let you format a disk when you want to. I've found that at times like those a (Maxtor's version of reality) low-level format, will enable such to be performed. I, after the first time, usually label such a format as "driving a wooden stake through it's heart". As nothing is on that disk afterwards. And short of having the gov'mt after me, is sufficient for my purposes.

As for my (admittedly) eccentricity of "low-level formatting" a new disk. It grew out of a purchase of a HD with something on it that shouldn't have been on a "new" disk. It costs only a few cents worth of electricity to do so (along with a few hours overnight) and eliminates any possibility of problems.

And, once you get used to having a pristine disk to use, you'll never use anything else.