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Windows Clean Install

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Carlos82

Technical User
May 7, 2007
65
US
When doing a Windows XP clean install, whats the difference between Disk Formatting (Quick) or just disk formating. Which one should you choose? Thanks Guys
 
i believe that a quick format is just as suggested, and only prepares the disk for file system in a limited way, whereas a full format includes full surface scan and error check.
thats what i was told, but a techy will probably correct me there, anyway i always prefer the full format (atleast for peace of mind)
 
Progenic7 is correct. A quick format writes the Master Boot Record and initialises the file system. A full format reads every sector and marks it as bad if the read fails. Then it writes the MBR and initialises the file system. Neither erase any data, which is a common mistaken assumption made.

If you are confident the disk is good, a quick format is quite sufficient.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]
 
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