HeyBub wrote:
Quote:
> Iain wrote: Quote:
>> I recently purchased a 160 GB version of the following for use as a
>> dedicated backup device:
>> http://www.seagate.com/www/en-gb/pro.../freeagent_go/
>>
>> Whilst it's excellent, the most annoying thing is it takes over 2
>> hours to fully format the drive. Quick format is just that; quick,
>> without problem! : )
>>
>> Why should full format take so long to accomplish? >
> When you choose to run a regular format on a volume, files are removed from
> the volume that you are formatting and the hard disk is scanned for bad
> sectors. The scan for bad sectors is responsible for the majority of the
> time that it takes to format a volume.
>
> If you choose the Quick format option, format removes files from the
> partition, but does not scan the disk for bad sectors. Only use this option
> if your hard disk has been previously formatted and you are sure that your
> hard disk is not damaged.
>
> "New" disks should be subjected to a "full" format before being placed in
> service. After that, ordinary operating practices should detect bad sectors
> so that a "Quick" format should be sufficient.
>
> Thanks for clarifying this.
Upon initial installation, I completely reformatted the drive to remove
all the rubbish Seagate had installed. I was amazed by the length of
time it took for format, however.
This being my dedicated disaster recovery disk, I'm trying to keep it as
pristine as possible, i.e. minimal fragmentation, etc. Therefore, is
quick format a good idea here or should I periodically reformat the
drive, then do a "Complete PC Backup"?