Low level format question

d_b · Post by **d_b** » Sat Aug 03, 2002 2:58 pm

When doing a low level format,does that erase all boot sectors, i.e. Win 98, XP (no linux)?

DocSilly · Post by **DocSilly** » Sat Aug 03, 2002 3:14 pm

A lowlevel format will get rid of anything on your hdd ...

VooDoo · Post by **VooDoo** » Sat Aug 03, 2002 5:22 pm

then what is the difference a lowlevel and a normal format

me

blade · Post by **blade** » Sat Aug 03, 2002 5:37 pm

A normal format just removes things on one partition, if you have a hard drive partitioned anyway. A low level format removes the partitions and anything on it. Something like powerquest lost and found can retrieve some or all files from a drive that was formatted, but not on one that was low level formatted.

VooDoo · Post by **VooDoo** » Sat Aug 03, 2002 5:50 pm

thanx

me

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sat Aug 03, 2002 11:02 pm

A Format does not destroy data - the volume table of contents (VTOC) are erased and the first few bytes of every cluster is reset and that's it. That's why those recovery tools like Safe & Sound can recover data off a formatted hard drive.

A low-level creates all the basic structures that need to exist on a drive for it to be usable - it defines the clusters and writes zeros in all of them and builds the VTOC. In the process it completely destroys and data that was on the drive before hand.

d_b · Post by **d_b** » Sat Aug 03, 2002 11:17 pm

Thanks all

PreDatoR · Post by **PreDatoR** » Sat Aug 03, 2002 11:17 pm

what do you use to do a low level format then. Cause i know windows format.exe don't do that. unless there is a switch you can kick on to low level with.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sun Aug 04, 2002 12:30 am

Nowadays you need to download a disk utility from the manufacturer's web site to do a low level. Each utility only works on their drives and some of them have different utilities for different models.

Crabcake · Post by **Crabcake** » Sun Aug 04, 2002 12:38 am

A low level format doesn't completely destroy data on the disk either. Not even close. You can low level format a disk, have it zero-filled once or twice and the data could still be recoverable. I believe the technical limit is five pass through. At my company (a consumer credit agency) all disks must be low level formatted and refilled with zeroes before we ship them to a recycling yard to be shredded.

PreDatoR · Post by **PreDatoR** » Sun Aug 04, 2002 12:42 am

LOL there is an easier way and less expensive way. Its called a 5lb sledge hammer. if the platters are smashed ain't no one gonna get jack off of the drives anyways. I was working a bank job where we were upgrading HDD's and installing new pc's and such. Any old HDD was ghosted put on the new HDD then we were to take them outside and beat the snot out of them. Why low level format or wipe them clean if their gonna be destroyed. And its a great stress reliever

Crabcake · Post by **Crabcake** » Sun Aug 04, 2002 1:56 am

Why low level format or wipe them clean if their gonna be destroyed

There is no guarantee that the disks will arrive at the designated destination. That's why.

I was working a bank job where we were upgrading HDD's and installing new pc's and such. Any old HDD was ghosted put on the new HDD then we were to take them outside and beat the snot out of them

Apparently, your employer has no regard for Workman Comp. claims.

Crabcake · Post by **Crabcake** » Sun Aug 04, 2002 2:10 am

Let me also add that the data on bank's PCs are hardly worth the effort of destroying with a hammer. Our data center structure is like this:
Tape Silo---------- Redundancy storage in 2 different states
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Disk Array
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MVS-----------SNA Server/SAA Server------------PCs
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O/S AIX
400

PreDatoR · Post by **PreDatoR** » Sun Aug 04, 2002 3:29 am

If you can hurt yourself with a hammer you shouldn't be using one... We did what we were told to do and yet the only thing that needed workmans comp were the HDD's... I guess my employer right now has no regards for workmans comp. I swing 16oz to 10lb hammers every day deal with metal weighing from a few oz's up to 100lbs, fire, heat, liquid nitrogen, toxic chemicals, you name it we have it and i'm exposed to it 4 days a week. Worked there for almost 3 years and have only missed a whole 3 days of work due to injury and that didn't even happen at work. L&I claims 0... Give me a break on the workmans comp thing. If you couldn't tell from the smiley face it was ment to be funny but yet serious at the same time. You sound like a prissy ass City boy who's never got his hands dirty before...

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sun Aug 04, 2002 9:22 am

Ahh, you'll have to excuse Pred. He's not always tactful, but we love him anyway.