At 11:00 AM 01/30/2001 Mark Rode wrote:
>
>The term low level format comes up from time to time on PCBUILD and
>generates a lot of different and often erroneous explanations.
>Let me see if I can throw some light on low level formats.
> . . .


To further elucidate...

A Low Level Format (LLF) is the actual defining of the tracks and sectors
on a hard drive platter. This is usually accomplished by processing signals
on the magnetic media surface of the disk. The primary reason to LLF a
drive is to revitalize the signals, which fade over time (four or five
years). Without sufficient definition, the drive heads cannot find the
sector nor the data in it.

A zero-out of the drive (which Seagate marketing refers to as a mid-level
format) leaves the actual layout of the tracks and sectors intact; it only
affects the contents by overwriting with "zeroes", and does not re-define
the sector structure. Its function is to eradicate data but the process is
insufficient for security purposes (military spec requires multiple random
writes/re-writes, but this also seems insufficient in view of NSA technology).

The caveat about the LLF-ing of IDE drives comes from the complexities
involved with the integrated electronics (embedded controller) of such
drives, and the differing designs and implementations of IDE drive models
(as opposed to drives conforming to SCSI standards). The IDE drive can be
proprietary, which affects such issues as drive geometry, translation, zone
recording, defect mapping, skew factoring, ECC, CCB (Command Control Block)
commands, manufacturer-specific format commands, spare sectoring, and
surface scanning. It is unlikely that an end-user can perform a LLF as well
as the factory, with its the specialized disk controllers and routines, but
a LLF is quite do-able. You only need software specifically designed to
work with a given drive.

Ultimately, though, modern hard drives are cheap and dependable so
performing a LLF on a drive in warranty is a questionable practice (unlike
the "old" days when a 80MB stepper-motor hard drive cost over $1K and the
warranty was perishable). Better to send the drive back to the factory for
replacement. Your data is the most important asset in your computer so
avoid risk.

Sincerely,

John Chin

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