Low level format question..

[smp]

I screwed up my MBR messing around with partitions. Anyways, I am using the powermax util from maxtor to do the low level format right now and it's taking FOREVER!!! I mean, it's been an hour by now. It's a thirty gig drive, so I know it would take a while, but not this long. Right now it's at 31,000,000 blocks.. I thought it would be done by now.. I don't even know if it's blocks or what notation, but it's over 30 and then next column of 3 is very very long time away. Anyways, I would also like to know if a low level format clears the MBR? Thanks.

 

[Doctorweir]

Low level format clears everything...in earlier times even the necessary information to identify the disk (=> forget about the disk), but that's a tale from the ancient times...:Q

Low level format takes a long time...once it took us two hours to format a 2 Gig drive...so good luck...

 

[Lemon2001]

how do you do a low level format?

 

[nam ng]

Hopefully Maxtor's low level utility won't be using any fancy data patterns to detect/remap bad blocks, then the job may get done in 8hrs if you're lucky. Next time try using "fdisk/MBR" to fix bad master boot record instead of OEM low level format util.

BTW, once started do not abort out of the utility, else you'll have to repeat it all over again.

 

[smp]

You need to get an application (it's recommended that you get one from your manufacturer) probably a dos based one that you put onto a bootable floppy, and then you run it. Check your drive manufacturers website. ie, maxtor.com or whatever.

 

[smp]

Thanks for the replies. It's still going.. time for bed. Damn, I wanted to get my OS's installed LAST night, talk about being behind schedule.

 

[Doctorweir]

If you use SCSI, the controller can perform the low level format...

 

[shathal]

Re: NEW MBR:

There is an (albeit undocumented) switch with the FDISK program to write a new MBR onto a HD. However, be warned - don't expect your data to survive a new writing of the MBR. This is an FYI only.

What you would have to do is the following command:

fdisk /mbr

You won't find this switch with the fdisk /? command, as I've said - it's not documented by Microsoft. It can be handy at times, such as in your scenario. Hope this is of some use to you.

Re: "How do you do Low-level formats?"
There are utilities from HD-manufacturers to do it. Equally, there is usually an option in the BIOS (in most, at any rate) to do this. However, it's highly recommended to keep your fingers away from this, unless you KNOW what you're doing.

Anyway - hope this helps .

 

[Doctorweir]

Whoops, typing took too long...? he, he....

 

[Lemon2001]

stay away from doing low level formats...i got you