When I read on websites one should do a low-level format, what do they mean?

Is that equivalent to one of these?

1) dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda
2) echo -e "o\nw" | fdisk /dev/sda
3) dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda1
4) mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1

If so, which one?  If not, what is a low-level format?

>From reading wikipedia[1], low-level sounds like it is none of the
above and either is done by the manufacturer or not at all.  The
article makes it sound as if when people say low-level formatting,
they mean a combination of 1, 2, and 4, which I tend to call "wiping",
"partitioning", and "formating".  Is that a fair conclusion?

BTW, the reason I am asking is because I came across a blog that
recommended low-level formatting an SD card before using it in a
digital camera.

Hope everyone is having a good holiday season.

[1] 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_formatting#Low-level_formatting_.28LLF.29_of_hard_disks

Regards,
- Robert

-- 
Central West End Linux Users Group (via Google Groups)
Main page: http://www.cwelug.org
To post: [email protected]
To subscribe: [email protected]
To unsubscribe: [email protected]
More options: http://groups.google.com/group/cwelug

Reply via email to