Re: HDD Choices

[Jim Noble <yahoo-groups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tim Hawes wrote:
> However, I have a problem - what?s the best way to format these?
> I was planning to plug it into the USB-SATA bridge that I have (like
> this one: http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/New-Products/SATA-Hard-Drive-USB-Docking-Station.html)
> and do it there, but while the drive will power-up it is not (yet)
> recognised in XP.
> Next I downloaded Samsung?s EStools drive software and while it will
> let me do a low level format, reports on the web seem to indicate that
> this will take a day and a half! I have two drives to do so taking my
> main machine out for that long isn?t the most convenient thing?
>

Er, perhaps I'm missing something, but you shouldn't ever need to
low-level format a new drive (I didn't think it was even possible with
IDE & SATA drives...?). It should show up as an "Unknown"
disk in the
Disk Management section of the Computer Management tool (control
panel->administrative tools or right click on My Computer and select
Manage). You can initialise, partition and format (the FS) from there (I
think - can only recall having to do that once, ever! Never really had
the need for a 2-drive PC :-)

Jim


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