Using Partition Magic 8.0+ to Format Brand New 250GIG Safe ?

[dvdman3]

As I know you always use to have to wait till the Sun Set to fDisk and Format.com a 200Gigs but with partition Magic 8.0 I can format and create partition within Mins or so.... will the drive then be reliable to store Highly Important documents then ? Advise please.

 

[Lonyo]

fDisk I think does a full format, not the quick format done by partition magic.

Win 2k format takes ages, XP setup has the option for a quick format or full format.
Both work equally fine, so I guess the Partition Magic format will work fine as well.

I don't think it will affect reliability, especially if it's a new drive, it has more of an impact on a drive that already had data.

I've been running quick formatted HDD's for about 8 months with no issues. (used partition magic 7)

 

[KF]

Sure. Why not? It should be as reliable as any formatting method.

As I understand it, for many years HDs have not actually put any formatting info on the sectors beyond what it comes from the factory with, and going through that lengthy routine actually doesn't do anything.

The setup CDs that come with a HD will do it even faster than PM.

The manufacturers usually supply a testing utility you can use if want be sure it is OK. Just writing 250G will take quite a while.