formatting a hdd and its taking forever

[myr707]

I just got a new western digital passport 500 gb and am in middle of formatting it (converting it to ntfs instead of fat32). Its running for well over two hours now and the format is about a third done. Anyone know if this makes any sense? I've formatted plenty of hard drives and never had it take this long.


Does this belong in the hardware forum?

 

[KSoD]

Are you using Windows? Have you tried GParted or one of the many other tools in the READ FIRST thread titled: Recommended software for certain tasks.

 

[myr707]

Yes I'm using windows to format it. Would you believe its not done yet!?! I don't care if it takes long now because since it took this long i don't need it til tomorrow morning (wanted to use it this afternoon). Do you think there is something wrong with the way its being formatted?

 

[KSoD]

No. Windows is just slow when it comes to formatting. Which is why i use GParted.

If you are doing anything else why it is formatting, like anything CPU intensive it will slow the process down a lot!

 

[myr707]

Ok now I know that for next time. Thanks

 

[forrestcupp]

Or you could just check the 'Quick Format' option in Windows. Since it's a new drive, you don't really need to erase anything important. Quick format gets it done in less than a minute.

 

[carnageX]

I believe its usually better to do a full format on a new disk.

 

[EricB]

I believe its usually better to do a full format on a new disk.

full format with xp = check disc plus format. a new disc don't need to be checked

 

[forrestcupp]

I've never done a full format on a new disk.

 

[EricB]

Differences between a Quick format and a regular format during a "clean" installation of Windows XP