Alternative to low-level formatting?

[fr]

Instead of doing a low-level format on a large drive which could take hours, can't I just write a huge file that's full of zeros onto the drive?

I have a dummy file creator that does this. It would be a lot quicker than doing a low-level format, but would it have the same effect?

 

[15453066]

Using debug.exe command in DOS Mode:


-f 200 L1000 0
-A CS:100
xxxx:0100 Mov AX,301
xxxx:0103 Mov bx,200
xxxx:0106 mov cx,1
xxxx:0109 mov dx,80 (80-hd0, 81-hd1)
xxxx:010c int 13
xxxx:010E int 20
xxxx:0110
-G
-q

 

[Lord Evermore]

Writing a dummy file doesn't wipe out the boot record, partition table, et cetera, it just writes one big file which is noted in the FAT or MFT. That's usually the reason people use the write all zeros tools. Security is also a reason some do it, and again writing a dummy file doesn't actually erase the file allocation table or master file table, so it's less secure.