djsaad1 Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 can someone explain to me the diffrence between doing a quick format through windows install and doing a full format. what is better about the full format? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OPaul Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 A full format also performs a chkdsk along with removing the table, a quick format just removes the table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atomizer Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 A full format also performs a chkdsk along with removing the table, a quick format just removes the table. cool, i didnt know that, i mean, i knew there had to be a reson to offer a quick and normal format, i just didnt know the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamz Veteran Posted September 27, 2004 Veteran Share Posted September 27, 2004 yeah, full scans for bad sectors. i always do a full format. it doesn't take too long on my small windows partition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xhobbitx Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 I'm a reasonably slow formatter, always do full though, windows/programs partition is only 30GB, so I just use the time for something productive...like looking at numbers from 0 to 100 :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DomZ Posted October 12, 2004 Share Posted October 12, 2004 I normally use quick format (impatient). But I think I might have to start using Full Format :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globe_abductee Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 another difference between quick format and full format is that full format removes everything, while quick format only deletes the root folder and FAT (file allocation table). deleting the fat has the effect that your pc doesn't find the files on your hard disk any more, but they are still there. but because your pc doesn't find them any more, it just writes over them... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamz Veteran Posted November 9, 2004 Veteran Share Posted November 9, 2004 nice point. welcome to neowin, globe. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corosus Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Imo good practice to use them would be Quick format if you know the drive is sector healthy, and use Full format if say your formatting a customers computer at work or you just bought the harddrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uniacidz Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 another difference between quick format and full format is that full format removes everything, while quick format only deletes the root folder and FAT (file allocation table). deleting the fat has the effect that your pc doesn't find the files on your hard disk any more, but they are still there. but because your pc doesn't find them any more, it just writes over them...?:)) 584887737[/snapback] Yep yep Thats why you here when people say i did a format(quick) that i still have some files left over from that format etc. On occasions the quick format will do its job fine, on rare occasions, Registry values, files and alike pop up to cause hassles etc. Always use full format. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerless Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302686 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalizar Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 I usually do a full format on brand new, unformatted hard drives, but a quick on ones that i just need to erase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slimy Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 quick for when i know i'll just reimage the partition full on clean install Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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