2006-07-20 12:31:11 · 9 answers · asked by yp_dennis_birmingham 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
To format a drive means to make setup a file system and set the disk as empty - High Level Formatting.
The most comment method of formatting means that a file system is being setup on the drive and it tells the system that there is space to write to, neglecting if there is actual data or not already there.
Meaning, if you format a drive via a quick format and haven't written to it, your data hasn't gone anywhere, but the normal file system won't see it.
You could still retreive your data but will have to go about it a different way, the only way to truly erase all the old data is to write something over all of it.
2006-07-20 12:38:00 · answer #1 · answered by Alyssa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Disks, be they hard disks inside a computer or removable disks like floppy disks, Zip (tm) disks or CD-ROMs, all store data. However, in order for a computer to make sense of the data on a disk, there must be some structure to how the data is arranged. When a disk is formatted, the basic structure (also known as a "filesystem") is applied to it so that all data added afterwards can be used properly by the computer's operating system. In almost all cases, formatting a disk results in whatever data was previously on it to be unusable, since the new filesystem has no references to the old data.
Most removable disks are unformatted when originally purchased and MUST be formatted with an appropriate filesystem to be used. Also, if a disk is damaged or the host operating system is infected with a trojan or virus, the filesystem on a disk may become irrevocably corrupted and require a re-format.
2006-07-20 12:39:16 · answer #2 · answered by TransientPhoenix 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A quick format wipes all the files. A full format wipes all the files and writes/fills the disk sectors with zeros. Additionally, the first sector (or few sectors) get(s) filled with data that tells the OS (operating system) that the disk is formatted and ready for use.
2006-07-20 12:34:42 · answer #3 · answered by gene_frequency 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do no longer format your disk - which will erase any archives you have saved there. Are you specific your disk you're attempting to apply has archives on it? To format skill to coach the disk for saving archives. reminiscent of determining to purchase a fixtures kit and assembling the drawers. It creates an organizational shape for saving archives. if your new pc does no longer be conscious of the "language" that is been saved in, it may inform you it should be formatted - that's like taking your kit completely aside, tossing out the contents, and re-reassembling it in perhaps a distinctive order. Are you attempting to bypass from a Mac to a workstation?
2016-12-10 11:18:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means dividing the disk into sectors and tracks which is like creating the drive from the beginning
2006-07-20 13:11:21 · answer #5 · answered by Luay14 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wiping the disk clean...with literally nothing on it. Only do it if you know what you are doing because the data will be irrecoverable.
2006-07-20 12:35:45 · answer #6 · answered by The Prince 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means to install or change the code on the disc so that it can be read by different operating programs. i.e. linux, windows, os etc.
2006-07-20 12:43:04 · answer #7 · answered by Ricky J. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to convert it to whatever its gonna be used for (yes it does delte everything)
2006-07-20 12:35:17 · answer #8 · answered by TheUsed 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
completely delete everything on it
2006-07-20 12:34:21 · answer #9 · answered by THEBurgerKing 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋