How do i low level format???

[JayMan]

I wanna low level format my harddisk. What do i need to do this? I have a seagate uata-100 20Gig harddisk. Thanks heaps

JayMan

[solo-pc-tech]

Low-level format is not usually not advisable on IDE drives.

Go to the Seagate web site and download their DiscWizard. This is just Seagate's name for their version of Ontrack's Disk Manager. DiscWizard might give you advice on what drive problems you think a low-level format would fix.

If its a partition problem, you might need to run the zero-fill option.

[NDC]

I don't know what the reason is for you wanting to low format your hard disk, but...

1) Just make a Win98 boot disk or download one here if you don't have access to one...

2) At the A: DOS prompt, type fdisk

3) You will get a message asking you if you want "Large Disk Support". Answer [Y] to make the file system FAT32 or answer [N] if you want to make a FAT16 partition which will automatically make the partition size 1023MB (1.99GB) unless specified.

4) You will see a list of options and just go to the option that deletes the primary partition...

[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 06-27-2001).]

[DanU]

To do a low-level format, you'll need a special low-level format utility. Most manufacturers have them, but they don't like to distribute them for fear that users might actually damage their hard drives instead of fix them.

[JayMan]

Thanks for the info for using DiscWizard, this will do what i require. Thanks again everyone.

JayMan

[surrealchereal]

What is the differnce between a low level format and FDISK? Is it something that wipes the drive to 0's including the boot record? FDISK doesn't always destroy the boot record does it?

[NDC]

Actually FDISK can be used as a low-format utility. FDISK is basically a partitioning utility. You can make and delete partitions. And yes, when you delete the Primary partition, the MBR is destroyed as well...

[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 06-28-2001).]

[JayMan]

All has been low-leveled (zero'd) and windows98se back up and running. The latest video card drivers seem to be working properly now (wasn't that actually thing i wanted to fix, but hey i'm not complaining)

JayMan

[charmler]

surrealchereal, read this