The purpose of FDISK is ONLY to set the partition information which is then
stored in the master boot record. That is why the command FDISK/MBR works
since this rewrites the master boot record.  After partitioning, each
partition must be individually formatted and that process sets up the FAT
tables and DIRectory for each partition. One partition must be marked as
active in the MBR so that on startup it knows which partition to select.

Practically NO ONE does a low level format today unless you have a very old
drive. All of the low-level formatting is done at the factory where special
software is used to "lock-out" defective areas, apply servo information and
then present an image to the user of a perfect drive with no bad sectors and
an optimum sector skip.  If you try to low level format an IDE drive even
with the factory software and you do not have the proper knowledge and info,
you will ruin the drive.  The Microsoft MSDOS manuals are correct, albeit
somewhat confusing.

Ray...

----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Gillett <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 1999 9:26 PM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] low level format


> On 25 Sep 99, at 14:59, raymond kornele wrote:
>
> > >From: Mark Rode <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] low level format
> > >Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 22:54:41 -0700
> > >
> > >FDISK will not remove corrupt partition tables or corrupt boot sectors
> > >which is why it is sometimes necessary to LLF.
> >
> > ===============
> > Fdisk -is- low level format. The high level format in DOS is called
Format.
> >
> > Fdisk -does- set the partitions -and- wipe all FAT and directory
> > information from the disk.
> >
> > Also, you must specify partition information when doing Fdisk.
> >
> > That according to the Microsoft DOS manual.
> > =====Korny=====
>
>   This is simply not true.  FDISK allows you to edit the partition
> table, within certain limitations[*].  The FAT and empty directory
> information are created by FORMAT, and are not the business either of
> FDISK or of a low-level format.
>
>   One characteristic of both FORMAT and a low-level format is that
> you have to wait for some time, based on the performance of your
> drive/controller and the size of the drive (LLF) or partition
> (FORMAT) while the relevant parts of the disk get rewritten.
>   Note that there is no subcommand within FDISK that exhibits this
> timing; therefore, it cannot be "wiping" the disk.
>
> [*] For instance, it may not allow you to fix a corrupted partition
> table, for fear that you are trying to use it to destroy valid non-
> DOS partitions....
>
>   I believe you have misunderstood this portion of the manual; it is
> entirely possible that the wording used by Microsoft may encourage
> such misunderstanding, but it cannot truthfully mean what you believe
> it to say.  Mark Rode's statement above is correct.
>
> David G
>
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