time taken to format 2.5" HD

[jfchui]

1) Can someone provide his/her own experience?

I bought a 2.5" 60 GB disk and fit it onto a external usb casing. I found it takes around 1 minute to format 1 GB. Is this speed normal? This is on a Celeron 1.7 GB system with plenty of memory running XP. I simply select the disk management function under control panel to partition the drive and go from there.

2) I wonder how the manufacturers of external usb disk are doing. They must have a smarter (quicker) way to format a 2.5" disk. Can I employ their way to quickly format the 2.5" hard disk before fitting it onto a external casing?

thanks.

[AllGamer]

This is because you are on a slow USB 1.1
it'll be faster on a USB 2.0
and even faster on a FireWire

but nothing beats it, if you can attach it to the internal IDE controller (using a 2.5 to 3.5 convertor)

[Midknyte]

did you choose quick format? if not, then that's the problem.

[jfchui]

I thought I do have usb2.0 as it shows (device manager)
NEC PCI to USB Enhanaced Host Controller (B1)
NEC PCI to USB Open Host Controller
USB Root Hub, etc.

the speed I quoted on my machine is normal format, not quick format.

Question: what is the average time for formatting a USB disk (anyone can give a clue )?
thanks.

[Midknyte]

if you don't use quick format then it is very SLOW. that is normal. the bigger the drive the longer it takes. why don't you just do a quick format? it just skips the disk check. if you know the drive is good, then you don't need to do the full format.

[BipolarBill]

Yup - use a quick format.

[jfchui]

why don't you just do a quick format? ...if you know the drive is good, then you don't need to do the full format.

I didn't know that.

I believe the drive SHOULD BE good as it is brand new. It is just my usual practice when putting a NEW drive for the first use.

[jfchui]

but nothing beats it, if you can attach it to the internal IDE controller (using a 2.5 to 3.5 convertor)

AllGamer:
so the connection is like the following:
2.5 drive -> interface converter --> IDE interface slot

Haven't thought about this connection before. I wonder how the 2.5" gets power in this type of connection, unless IDE interface slot is providing dc power.

[BlackTruckRyder]

It gets power from a 4 pin power connecter.

[jfchui]

It gets power from a 4 pin power connecter.

Yes, got the following complete connection diagram from ebay (sells for ~US$5)

2.5" drive --> interface converter -> IDE slot
and
4 pin power cable --> interface converter