new HDD question

2008-05-29 08:00:20

#1

prototype: Member; +52|6581

I just bought a 500GB WD internal sata drive to put into an external enclosure.

I was formatting it last night and I let it go for about 2.5 hours but eventually had to shut it off before it finished.

how long will it take to format the drive?

Will canceling the format halfway harm the drive?

also, after i stopped the format, it looked like it was ready to go and was showing up as healthy.

When it is done formatting will it let me know it is done or will it still show as FORMATTING even after it had finished?

Thank you for any answers you guys have.

2008-05-29 08:02:53

#2

Brasso: member; +1,549|6900

Why did you stop midway? It will let you know when it's done.

I would reformat again, just to be safe. I don't think that would have harmed the drive.

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2008-05-29 08:04:43

#3

alexb: <3; +590|6210|Kentucky, USA

My 250GB takes about 1-2 hours, to fully format. If I were you, let it format all the way, and play some Xbox or watch some TV in the meanwhile.

2008-05-29 08:05:49

#4

prototype: Member; +52|6581

does it matter which computer i use to format the drive?

i am at work now and have the time to let it go

i had to stop it last night because i didnt want to leave my gaming rig on all night.

2008-05-29 08:08:29

#5

Zimmer: Un Moderador; +1,688|7026|Scotland

No it doesn't matter. My 500GB hard drive didn't take that long to format, but then again, your computer might be slower.

Just let it be and let it finish.
Although I advise getting GPARTED on a boot CD and formatting from there. Excellent program.

2008-05-29 08:11:26

#6

prototype: Member; +52|6581

this will just be a storage drive so does it matter what i use to format it?

i let it go for almost 3 hours and it did not finish,
my gaming rig is not the best, the specs are in my sig

2008-05-29 08:13:06

#7

Zimmer: Un Moderador; +1,688|7026|Scotland

Hm. Something may be wrong. Check your connections and try with another SATA cable.

But yes, it does matter. Some programs are better than others, and GPARTED LIVE CD is the best you can get. Boot up from it and format to NTFS.

2008-05-29 08:21:46

#8

prototype: Member; +52|6581

i am at work so i cant format with anything but what comes with windows xp pro

there is an option for QUICK FORMAT

is it ok to use that or is it better to format at a slower speed.

Last edited by prototype (2008-05-29 08:22:34)

2008-05-29 09:29:01

#9

prototype: Member; +52|6581

does it matter which drive has what number

my main drive on my computer at work says DISK 0
but my main drive on my system at home says DISK 1

2008-05-29 09:35:51

#10

GC_PaNzerFIN: Work and study @ Technical Uni; +528|6684|Finland

at first time do the slow full format. after that you can use the fast format.

3930K | H100i | RIVF | 16GB DDR3 | GTX 480 | AX750 | 800D | 512GB SSD | 3TB HDD | Xonar DX | W8

2008-05-29 13:28:55

#11

prototype: Member; +52|6581

so it has been almost 5 hours since i started the format on my 500GB drive

the system it is running on is an old dell with an INTEL P4 @ 2.2GHZ and 512 SDram

is 5 hours normal ?

2008-05-29 13:48:25

#12

Brasso: member; +1,549|6900

thats a lot of time. my 250 GB probably took about an hour.

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2008-05-29 13:54:55

#13

prototype: Member; +52|6581

why would it take this long?

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