NTFS Quick format VS long?

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Raphael Argus

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For whatever darn reason my Windows XP disk will not let me do a standard format of my hard disk. (This is a used hard disk recently given to me that contains old data). I really wanted to do a full format, anyone know if it makes that big of a difference in performance?
 
No there is not much difference other than time. Unless you suspect something is wrong, there is no harm in using Quick. I do not think it performs a detailed surface scan for bad sectors so doing a full format is not that great anyways.

A full format also performs a chkdsk along with removing the table, a quick format just removes the table.

Quick format removes files from the disk but does not scan the disk for bad sectors. Use this option only if this disk has been previously formatted and you are sure the disk is not damaged.


http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=221606

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1583&page=3
 
Hey, thanks for all the information. Exactly what I needed to know :) I was hoping a full scan was only a more detailed check of the hard disk and had nothing really to do with data wipe.
 
Omg... I been using long format all this time.

Yup me too. :( I never knew that it was only to check for bad sectors, well damn, quick format for me from now on
 
yeah I'll probably wind up doing a long format when my new mobo and CPU arrives :D Just out of habit, but like you said major, just to make sure
 
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