Hello Ken,

ditto, Low level formats are not performed on modern IDE drives. Only
the manafacturer can do this using specilized eqipment. What is now
known as a low level format is simply over writing the data on the
disk that to if you use destructive testing. 

i normally keep "low level" formats for virus infected disks where
even the mbr / first sector is infected. obviously this was during my
high flying windblows days :o)

Thank You,
Regards,
mario



Ken Thompson wrote:
> 
> On Monday 04 February 2002 07:36 am, you wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > It's generally not a good idea to use the low level formatting feature of
> > some system board bioses.  You might lose the factory skew settings put on
> > your disk at the factory when they did the factory low level format.  The
> > system board bioses I have seen do not call the proprietary factory format
> > routines on the hard disk; at least not the ones that I have seen.  And
> > I've seen a few.
> >
> > Sesame Galeo recommended a debug routine.  If that works, it's the best
> > way, because that command sequence is routing you to the hard drive's
> > formatting routine in it's firmware.
> 
>  I don't think debug will work with the IDE or ATAPI drives, will it?
> As far as I remember, the format stuff for debug was designed for MFM and RLL
> drives usually found in 286 or older systems..
> I could be way off base here as I haven't used that command for nearly 8
> years <G>....
> The absolute best way is to use the utility from the mfgr because it is
> designed to work with the proper size and series of drive you have.
> 
> > If however your drive does not respond with that, you really should get a
> > low level factory format program from the manufacturer.  That way you won't
> > mess your drive up.
> >
> > On Sunday 03 February 2002 19:21, you wrote:
> > > Hi List,
> > >
> > > I've got an old Maxtor drive that has some issues and I think it may be
> > > in need of a low-level format. Is there a utility that anyone could
> > > suggest that would help me accomplish this and bring the disk back from
> > > the brink?
> > >
> > > thanks,
> >
> > _________________________________________________________
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> 
> --
> 
> Ken Thompson, North West Antique Autos
> Payette, Idaho
> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> http://www.nwaa.com
> Sales and brokering of antique autos and parts.
> 
> Linux- Coming Soon To A Desktop Near You
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