Tom's Guide | Tom's Hardware | Tom's Games
 |
 |
 |
I have a seagate Drive I would like to low level format which program can I use and where can I find it. I tried seagate but no luck. please help
If I'm not mistaken , low level format is usually done at the factory and not necessary for the user to do. Is there a reason you feel you have to low level format?
Usually you just need to boot to a bootable disk and format with the Format C:/s command. Others on this forum have recommended Bootdisk.com to download a bootdisk if you don't have one
0 
0
Explain what a low-level format is.
Pass the test an I'll tell ya bout lo-level formats on modern IDE drives!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
0
Angel, the info you need is on Seagate's site -- you just didn't look far enough. Good luck!
http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/disc/low_level_ata.html
0
What does "low level formatting" mean?
Actually the term "low level" is a bit of a misnomer. The low level process first used years ago in MFM hard drives bears little resemblance to what we now call a "low level format" for today's ATA (IDE) drives. A better name for today's low level formatting utility is intermediate- or mid-level formatting. This is sometimes referred to as the "initialize" or "re-initialize" process. The basic purpose of a mid-level format is to erase everything currently on the drive.
Why would I want to low level format my drive?
The most common reasons to low level format an ATA (IDE) hard drive are:
The drive has contracted a virus that cannot be removed without destroying the boot sector.
The drive is developing bad sectors at an increasing rate.
You are changing from one operating system to another and wish to remove everything from the drive.
NEVER use the Low Level Format Utility found in most BIOS's on IDE Drives.
Use the Drive Manufactures Utility found on most sites (Such as Drive Wizard)
0
I don't understand all this advice not to low level format. You have to be careful not to unflag bad spots the manufacture has flagged.
I theorize that there are all kinds of hidden files that the operating system keeps tabs on you with. And the do not low level format is given so you do not erase these.
I know I recently encountered a RECOVER directory with one file in it beside an archive I had made of Windows ME. The directroy was hidden and I could not access it, but it was not part of my archive so the operating system must have made it.
This is the kind of thing not low formatting preserves. A low format was like a Scandisk surface scan that also completely erased the drive for those of you who do not
remember the low level in the bios of 386 computers.
0
1) Always use the utility provided on the manufacturers web site for low level format or "write zeroes" to drive:
- Seagate -sgatfmt4
-Western Digital -wddiag
-Maxtor -MUD disk contains low level format softwareAlso debug can be used to remove all traces of previous files etc - manual script
RC
0
why do you need to low-level format.
just format the hard drive like this format c:find a bootable disk, that came with your hard drive.
there is utilities on it called "write zero's"
do that!then check for errors and repair them.
after you do that
boot your machine with the Windows98/2000 cd to install
0
People who are tellling you that you don't need low level format are wrong. Personally, I have to use it all the time. Especially when I have an NTFS partition. To the people that are just saying format c:, what if I had two ntfs partitions before and now I want one Fat32 partition what do I do? Fdisk does not work because I have tried. I cannot delete the second NTFS partition. The only way I can do this is by low level format.
0
I cant believe the rants I am seeing here. I have been working with computers for 19 years now, and have had opportunity to low level, debug, fdisk, format, etc with all kinds of methods and tools.
Low level format should be used to delete hidden partitions, tenacious viruses, etc. I personally use a debug script for this purpose. one that wipes all partitions from the drive. If you are clever, you can find this type of debug script handily, or you can contact me directly if you would like to recieve a debug script in email. if you are interested in this, email me at aarghj@yahoo.com. NO SPAM! serious inquiries only.
0
I *had to* low level a Hitachi Visionbook harddisk, when I wanted to install WIN -95 after Linux had been installed. Hitachi was not very helpful, and I spent a night searching for a program that would do it. I found a general low level formatting program LI.exe on the web. It is shareware, and I will post it on the URL below soon (I'll have to pull the file from my cd's & FTP it. I'll have that done by 2001-03-01)
0
Does anybody know where to find a low level format utility for JTS CHAMPION C4300-3AS. A lot of websites tell me that JTS corp has shut down for good. Help Anybody........
0
Use a low level format to kill the boot sector. This isn't a problem normally, but if you run multiple OSes (usually meaning MS and non-MS OSes at the same time), then you may need to kill the boot sector at some point. This may happen if you install linux, followed by win-X, instead of win-X followed by linux.
0
Hi...I'm too having probs with my Seagate HDD.. but what I'm having is that whenver I try to format or surface scan it...it stops at 32% in both the cases. I tried to hihg level format. Does this indicate presence of bad sectors.
Please reply asap.
thanxPsst: by the way it is a 1 GB HDD...ST1080A
0
where i can find a site for free downlading low level format files??
i have a compaq note book, anyway...and i want to low level that notebook..
thank's
0  |
 dos extender
|
How do I Converge PFSWrit...
|
This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.
| Ads by Google |
