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Fast format/Format, difference?
Name: fiskgunnar Date: December 1, 2004 at 12:35:48 Pacific OS: WinXP Pro CPU/Ram: P4 2,4ghz / 1gb Ddram
Comment:
Hi!
When I install WinXP I get to choose if I wish to format my drive. I can either choose "fast" / "quick" format (my XP is swedish so I don't know for sure what word is used in the english version) or I can choose "full" format.
What's the difference? Any advanteges with either one?
Name: Misse Date: December 1, 2004 at 12:49:16 Pacific
Reply:
For a new, empty HDD the quick one, and for a used one, the long wait. ....Is a good general rule, where I come from :) The difference is, that the disk is also scanned for bad sectors using the chkdsk command with "normal" format.
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Response Number 2
Name: XpUser Date: December 1, 2004 at 12:51:53 Pacific
Reply:
To further misse's good explanation...
Assume your file system is FAT32, quick format merely removes the File allocation table. Normal format is a long process that actually format the HD as Misse have stated.
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