Win XP quick format is a lot quicker than the 2k format. Not sure why, but it also does it in a different way (works fine though).
I had a messed up HDD that I couldn't format/reformat/wipe with Partition Magic 7 or Win 2k format thing, stuck in an XP disk and did quick format and it worked fine, and I could finally use the HDD again.
It's just XP has a different way of formatting to 2k and it does it much quicker. And on a new machine, the actually installation (copying files etc) is quick anyway.