How does a true low-level format destroy the drive? I've done it twice
before....once recommended by Gateway (many years ago), and more recently by
Dell.
--
"Don't pick a fight with an old man.
If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you."
"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:hsdfq55c12ju7navn9m501rakmbf4k8gb8@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:22:19 -0400, "Chuck" <cdknospam@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> The Mfr's drive specific utilities can usually be downloaded and used to
>> do
>> what now passes for a "low level" format.
>
>
> Yes, as I said, some people (and even some manufacturers) misuse the
> term "low-level format" that way. But the problem is that if you
> recommend to someone that he do a low-level format and if he comes
> across and uses a older *real* low-level format utility, he can
> destroy his drive. For that reason, I think it's very important to
> never use the term in a recommendation to anyone.
>
>
>
>> That aside, the "shadow copy" feature can cause problems with selectively
>> removing personal files and info from a drive if
>> a full "erase" and multi rewrite to crypto standards is not desired.
>>
>> I'd likely use a CD copy of Linux and utilities to totally clean off the
>> drive and start over with a new windows install.
>> (Easily available on the web for the time to download, and the cost of a
>> CD/DVD.
>>
>> Trial and limited use versions of more commonly known disk utilities are
>> also out there.
>>
>>
>> "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
>> news:cq5fq5d6ectnirqnkt5r7bcn3gtslogmhd@4ax.com...
>> > On Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:12:06 -0400, Mr doe <Mrdoe@blowfish.net> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Char Jackson wrote:
>> >
>> >> > I've given away a few dozen PC's in the last 10-plus years, but
>> >> > never
>> >> > to anyone I know. I agree with the folks who recommend wiping the
>> >> > drive. Formatting or repartitioning aren't good enough, IMO. Data
>> >> > can
>> >> > easily be recovered after those operations.
>> >> >
>> >> LOW level Format. Write Zeros to the Drive .
>> >
>> >
>> > Be aware that, although many people call writing zeroes to the drive
>> > low-level formatting, that is *not* what it is. Low-level formatting
>> > should never be done to a modern drive, and will destroy it.
>> >
>> > --
>> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
>> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>>
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup