Full Format vs. Quick Format (NTFS, WinXP Pro)

Cannibal Corpse

Cannibal Corpse

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Sep 22, 2002
Messages
1,285
Hi All,

Does quick format completely remove old data?

Fomating a 200GB will take a long time. (I have two 120GB, and one 200GB and if I format it take forever)

Which one do you recommend?

Thanks for your responses.
 
Nope, quick format just erases the FAT table. It's 'gone' but you can recover it if you don't ovewrite it. If you're really paranoid, you have to use something that overwrites your drive multiple times. (Drive shredder or something, I can't remember the names of the programs..)
 
Unless things fail in very strange ways, do a quick format.
(If you're paranoid, you'll want to use a disk wiper anyway.)
 
I usually do a quick format if I am going to leave the partitions and file system the same, but if I change any of them, then I will do a full format.
 
I generally use the quick format option for myself. I don't worry about having my data recovered since I'll end up overwriting anyway. I've heard that it's a good idea to do a full format occasionally to "clean" up the drive or something. It's probably a good idea but there is nothing wrong with using a quick format for yourself.

In the case where you are formatting a drive you had for someone else, then I would do a full format.
 
Originally posted by Cannibal Corpse
Thanks for your inputs. I still feel that if I do a quick, it is still 'not clean'... :rolleyes:
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Then why bother asking the question? Quick format does the job just fine. The data is essentially gone, but if you're worried about sombody digging through your data, it's not good enough.
 
Originally posted by defcom_1
Then why bother asking the question? Quick format does the job just fine. The data is essentially gone, but if you're worried about sombody digging through your data, it's not good enough.
Click to expand...

Full format will also take into account problems with the disk, and treat accordingly.
 
If i go all out and format, I mise well go all out

I write Zeros to both of my drives, then i full format them before i install Windows again.
 
I never quick format - just seems like a bad idea. Full format doesn't take that long anyway, and it's not something you do everyday.
 
Originally posted by EnderW
I never quick format - just seems like a bad idea. Full format doesn't take that long anyway, and it's not something you do everyday.
Click to expand...

Umm.. why does quickformatting seem like a bad idea?
 
Originally posted by SJConsultant
Umm.. why does quickformatting seem like a bad idea?
Click to expand...
Not sure. It's just one of those phrases, like, 'cheap tattoo' that sounds like a bad idea, even though it could turn out ok.
 
as mentioned a quick format simply erases the partition table
a full format adds a surface scan to that and locks out any bad sectors
neither "erase" data, as mentioned to do that you would employ a zero fill utility often called "low level formatting" which it actually isnt

true low level formatting being writing the cylinder, track, sector and servo burst drive architecture to the HDD, and is now only done at the factory

you probably have a zero fill utility included in the manufacturers diagnostic tool (generally available for download in the support section of their website)

a single pass with a zero fill utility will erase data past the ability of most consumer level data recovery tools to recover, but not forensic data recovery, which will read the magnetic strength of the individual bits, and extrapolate their previous states and recompile the data, to defeat all but the most exhaustive forensic recovery, you would overwrite multiple patterns of data, but to truely "secure" a HDD they are generally destroyed
 
If I'm paranoid I'll just take a hammer to the hd. Lets see them recover the data now :p
 
I always just full format. it really doesn't take that long, usually i get it started formatting, and go watch TV or eat dinner/snack or something, come back 20 minutes later and Windows XP is waiting for me to enter in the CD-Key. Like some of the others, i just don't feel like it's really "clean" unless i full format, just seems worth the extra few minutes it sets you back. :cool:
 
Originally posted by Godmachine
Just use one of these ...https://secure.avdns7.com/~scitoys/cgi-bin/shop.exe?page=store.html extremely powerful magnets will wipe that hard drive in zero time ;) doesn't matter if you are a hard drive recovering expert ..once demagnatized all data is completely gone
Click to expand...

actually while all the data would be gone there would still be residual magentic strength to be read, it would take the FBI or the NSA to do it, at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars, and a supercomputer to recompile it,

of course that is a little extreme for a p0rn recovery operation :p

they have even recompiled data from wiped platters that where then disassembled and shattered if Im not mistaken, so plan on grinding the platters into dust
 
Plus my boot partition is only around 10GB so it only takes about 4 minutes. When I partition the rest of the drive I can do it in Windows and still use the computer.
 
correct me if im wrong, but in comparison isnt a quick format like putting a file in the recycling bin and doing a complete format like emptying the recycling bin?

thats what i've heard
 
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