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?

Iain wrote:

> 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.

HeyBub wrote:

> Iain wrote:

>> 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"?

Alias wrote:

> Iain wrote:

>> HeyBub wrote:

>>> Iain wrote:
>>>> 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.

>
> What rubbish?
>
> Alias

From the link to Seagate website listed above:

" Whether using a computer at work, school, a business center, an
Internet cafe or library, have your desktop environment and latest files
with you. Along with up to 160 glorious gigabytes, FreeAgent™ Go
software lets you carry lots of great programs and all your browser
favorites and passwords without having to haul around your computer.
Now any PC can temporarily become your PC.

And not to worry, your FreeAgent Go data mover saves all of your private
information on itself, not on the computer you’re using. That means
there’s no trace of your last session to tempt the next user on a
borrowed computer. It also provides strong file encryption to protect
your content and lets you sync your files from several PCs. It even
includes a five-year limited warranty."


Seagate software is preloaded on drive to provide above listed services.
It's not needed for my usage of drive.

Alias wrote:

> Iain wrote:

>> Alias wrote:

>>> Iain wrote:
>>>> HeyBub wrote:
>>>>> Iain wrote:
>>>>>> 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.
>>>
>>> What rubbish?
>>>
>>> Alias

>>
>> From the link to Seagate website listed above:
>>
>> " Whether using a computer at work, school, a business center, an
>> Internet cafe or library, have your desktop environment and latest
>> files with you. Along with up to 160 glorious gigabytes, FreeAgent™ Go
>> software lets you carry lots of great programs and all your browser
>> favorites and passwords without having to haul around your computer.
>> Now any PC can temporarily become your PC.
>>
>> And not to worry, your FreeAgent Go data mover saves all of your
>> private information on itself, not on the computer you’re using. That
>> means there’s no trace of your last session to tempt the next user on
>> a borrowed computer. It also provides strong file encryption to
>> protect your content and lets you sync your files from several PCs.
>> It even includes a five-year limited warranty."
>>
>>
>> Seagate software is preloaded on drive to provide above listed
>> services. It's not needed for my usage of drive.

>
> That's weird because I just bought two Seagate PATA drives and they had
> nothing on them. I believe the software you refer to comes on a CD or
> DVD, not the drive itself which, because I bought the drives OEM, didn't
> come with my drives.
>
> Alias

What led me to believe the software was preinstalled on drive was:
1) No media included in retail package
2) UAC prompt to install Seagate programmes from disk appeared upon
initial H/W installation
3) Seagate documents that indicated disk control programmes were
resident on disk

"Alias" <akaalias@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:fim9ep$ck0$1@xxxxxx

> Iain wrote:

>> Alias wrote:

>>> Iain wrote:
>>>> HeyBub wrote:
>>>>> Iain wrote:
>>>>>> 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.
>>>
>>> What rubbish?
>>>
>>> Alias

>>
>> From the link to Seagate website listed above:
>>
>> " Whether using a computer at work, school, a business center, an
>> Internet cafe or library, have your desktop environment and latest files
>> with you. Along with up to 160 glorious gigabytes, FreeAgent™ Go software
>> lets you carry lots of great programs and all your browser favorites and
>> passwords without having to haul around your computer. Now any PC can
>> temporarily become your PC.
>>
>> And not to worry, your FreeAgent Go data mover saves all of your private
>> information on itself, not on the computer you’re using. That means there’s
>> no trace of your last session to tempt the next user on a borrowed
>> computer. It also provides strong file encryption to protect your
>> content and lets you sync your files from several PCs. It even includes
>> a five-year limited warranty."
>>
>>
>> Seagate software is preloaded on drive to provide above listed services.
>> It's not needed for my usage of drive.

>
> That's weird because I just bought two Seagate PATA drives and they had
> nothing on them. I believe the software you refer to comes on a CD or DVD,
> not the drive itself which, because I bought the drives OEM, didn't come
> with my drives.

You bought two free agent gos and didn't get the software?
Take them back as someone has used them and deleted the software.
Either that or you didn't read the OP question about his external drives.