Low level Format erases virtually all the information on a HD including the HD bios itself. That information is stored on the first two tracks of the HD. It tells your computer what size your HD is, where all the defective sectors are at so it won't write information in that sector, and it self identifies back to itself for head writing, tracking, and reading information.
Format does not erase the first two tracks on the HD. Nor does it rewrite the existing tracks on the HD. What it does is delete all the information one has put on the HD after it (HD) was low level formatted by the Mfg. Unless one has been steadily losing information on a HD and they think it's due to writing on bad sectors rather than a virus, never ever not in this or any other lifetime low level format a HD. IF..., the problem is bad sectors then low level format is only a Band-Aid approach as the disk medium slowly decendigrates like cancer spreading. Always, (Cardinal Rule) back up. If you have HD problems do it immediately. Mirror your HD if you have valuable information you must save. The Cardinal Rule will change to a Cardinal Sin if you are losing data and don't mirror your drive. Not IF but when your HD crashes, rending of sack cloth, annoting with ashes, sacrificing your first born to the Computer Gods will not bring back the HD. Trust me, I know only too well from many computer crashes what HD failure will do for your life. Besides destroying three years of my life the first time, it morphed me into the Wicked Witch of the West. For months, friends would run and hide when they saw me coming. Back up, back up, back up, back up. I promise you will still cry when the HD goes south but if the Computer Gods are kind, you won't morph into a Troll at the same time. always, Barb http://www.BarbieLee.com "Model Makers" "A Change of Heart" "The Alchemist" ask for them at your favorite book store -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
