Formatting HDD Question

onlyherefor1q · 05-23-2008, 08:50 AM

Hi

Under the System Settings part of the XMB on my PS3 when I select Format Hard Drive it gives me the option to ether do a Quick Format or a Full Format. It says when Quick Format is selected that 'specialist equipment' can be used to recover data form the HDD but doesn't say it under Full format. I was just wondering whether when Full Format is selected does it really make the data on my HDD completely gone?

**Deleted090308** · 05-23-2008, 09:19 AM

Hi

I wouldn't think so.
The only way to completely erase the data is to

or burn the HDD.

Using DBAN makes it much harder to recover the data.

**TheShadowFl** · 05-23-2008, 09:36 AM

Typically.....a quick format only erases the directory and puts the space that was used, back in the file allocation table as free space. For the time being, until the drive is written to, all the old data is still there and can be recovered by the right software.

A FULL format, re-writes every track and sector, overwriting all the old data, effectively erasing it. The tracks are re-written, re-aligning them with the heads, assuring a much more reliable drive.

I just did a FULL DOS format on two 160 gig SATA2 drives. The process took about 8 hours per drive. I'm fully assured that the drives are now ready for anything I want to do with them.

Cheers mate!
The Shadow

onlyherefor1q · 05-23-2008, 10:32 AM

Yer but I heared that formatting only ever means clearing the selection tablets and the info is still there...

**Deleted090308** · 05-23-2008, 10:39 AM

Formatting only erases the info where to find the data.
With wiping software, like DBAN, you write 0's over and over on the HDD (it takes hours) - but it's still possible to retreive at least some data.
You have to smash the HDD to be absolutely sure.

05-23-2008, 08:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
onlyherefor1q Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Formatting HDD Question Hi Under the System Settings part of the XMB on my PS3 when I select Format Hard Drive it gives me the option to ether do a Quick Format or a Full Format. It says when Quick Format is selected that 'specialist equipment' can be used to recover data form the HDD but doesn't say it under Full format. I was just wondering whether when Full Format is selected does it really make the data on my HDD completely gone?

05-23-2008, 09:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,272 OS: Xp	Re: Formatting HDD Question Hi I wouldn't think so. The only way to completely erase the data is to or burn the HDD. Using DBAN makes it much harder to recover the data.

05-23-2008, 09:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
TheShadowFl TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 292 OS: XP-SP3, Vista Ult. 64, Win-7/64	Re: Formatting HDD Question Typically.....a quick format only erases the directory and puts the space that was used, back in the file allocation table as free space. For the time being, until the drive is written to, all the old data is still there and can be recovered by the right software. A FULL format, re-writes every track and sector, overwriting all the old data, effectively erasing it. The tracks are re-written, re-aligning them with the heads, assuring a much more reliable drive. I just did a FULL DOS format on two 160 gig SATA2 drives. The process took about 8 hours per drive. I'm fully assured that the drives are now ready for anything I want to do with them. Cheers mate! The Shadow __________________ A person with experience is never at the mercy of a person with an argument.

05-23-2008, 10:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
onlyherefor1q Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Re: Formatting HDD Question Yer but I heared that formatting only ever means clearing the selection tablets and the info is still there...

05-23-2008, 10:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,272 OS: Xp	Re: Formatting HDD Question Formatting only erases the info where to find the data. With wiping software, like DBAN, you write 0's over and over on the HDD (it takes hours) - but it's still possible to retreive at least some data. You have to smash the HDD to be absolutely sure.