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General discussion

Low Level Formatting

by BigBill May 31, 2005 10:22AM PDT

I have WD and Maxtor drives which got clobbered somehow and now the BIOS will not recgonize them.

Any suggestions on programs to low level reformat these drives?

Thanks..

Discussion is locked

2 Posts

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You can download from their

by Ray Harinec May 31, 2005 12:16PM PDT

website something that they call a low level format program, however it really does not do a true low level format. It might get your drive back to all zeroes. might give it a try. Shouldn't make things any worse. A real low level format might.

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Test elsewhere

by Willy May 31, 2005 1:26PM PDT

Before you give up, prove the HDs are bad. Test them on another system, just see if they get recognized, if not or they persist to resist, then try a reformat. Vendor diags can help determine a problem but also any possible warranty issue if still covered. If it fails after a format, then truly a bad HD. But why, they got that way is another matter. It maybe possible a power glitch or a bad buss or simply "heat buildup" finally got to them. Heat buildup besides the case temp, the immediate heat between the HDs themselves if mounted close together or on top of each other, cause a "hot stop" that can claim HDs sooner or later. Otherwise, correct and replace. It maybe better to replace 2-HDs with i large HD capable of the same Mbs or more.

tada -----Willy

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