How Long to Format a 500GB HD---via USB 2.0

theboy · 03-08-2009, 04:30 AM

How Long to Format a 500GB HD---via USB 2.0???
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822100053

Today, I bought this from Circuit City (there last day in business

) for $60 bucks. I think I got a good deal....

Anyways I checked the low level format to start my drive off fresh and its at 3% now and has been going for about 20 minutes. At this point I am just going to leave my computer on and walk away. How long should it take? If I were to cancel the format and then check the 'quick format' would that ruin the drive?

Thanks!

**johnb35** · 03-08-2009, 05:25 AM

Formatting that drive will take some time, I would say at least a couple hours or so using USB. I wouldn't recommend doing a quick format though, I don't trust it.

theboy · 03-08-2009, 05:34 AM

Yeah, it's at 15% right now. Do you think I got a good buy?

$60 bucks isn't bad

Twist86 · 03-09-2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theboy

Yeah, it's at 15% right now. Do you think I got a good buy?

$60 bucks isn't bad

Not a bad price since a internal 500GB costs roughly the same.

tyttebøvs · 03-08-2009, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theboy

If I were to cancel the format and then check the 'quick format' would that ruin the drive?

There is really no difference in writing a .txt file to the harddrive and formatting it - other than it differs in the type of data that gets written.

So no, you don't break a drive by cancelling a format.

/\E · 03-08-2009, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyttebøvs

There is really no difference in writing a .txt file to the harddrive and formatting it - other than it differs in the type of data that gets written.

So no, you don't break a drive by cancelling a format.

You don't break it...

But the reason it takes a while is because it is setting the storage 'tables' in place and prepping it to store data.

I can't remember how long my 500GB WD My Book took to format. It seems like greater than an hour.

tyttebøvs · 03-08-2009, 06:12 AM

It takes a long time, because a "full" format checks every sector on the harddrive. The quick format skips that.

theboy · 03-08-2009, 07:13 AM

Thanks for all the replies. Right now three hours into the format its at 33%. So I expect another 6 hours for a complete format. Kinda funny, I never would of thought it would have taken this long. Am I gaining anything for doing a low level format? Maybe less defrags in the future?

p.s. This HD design is quite interesting. It has aluminum and bamboo, on the external enclosure.

It's been formatting for some time now (3hrs) and the enclosure isn't hot or anything

tyttebøvs · 03-08-2009, 07:19 AM

You might spot broken sectors (which you might not even notice, if the drive remaps them internally) thats it.

theboy · 03-08-2009, 07:37 AM

Maybe I am impatient but I had the HD sitting vertically this whole time, and just moved it flat. Maybe the HD has less strain now and going to go faster.

It's at 38%

Maybe next time I will just run a quick format.

03-08-2009, 04:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
theboy Gold Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 341	How Long to Format a 500GB HD---via USB 2.0 How Long to Format a 500GB HD---via USB 2.0??? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822100053 Today, I bought this from Circuit City (there last day in business ) for $60 bucks. I think I got a good deal.... Anyways I checked the low level format to start my drive off fresh and its at 3% now and has been going for about 20 minutes. At this point I am just going to leave my computer on and walk away. How long should it take? If I were to cancel the format and then check the 'quick format' would that ruin the drive? Thanks! __________________ CPU::::::::AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester 2.2GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Mobo::::::GA-K8N51GMF-9 Memory:::2.5GB PSU:::::::Antec 380-Watt Monitor:::19"Widescreen 1440X900 5ms 500:1 OS::::::::(dual boot) Vista Ultimate/XP Pro

03-08-2009, 05:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnb35 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Near Joliet Illinois Age: 39 Posts: 3,622	Formatting that drive will take some time, I would say at least a couple hours or so using USB. I wouldn't recommend doing a quick format though, I don't trust it. __________________ Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R CPU - E8400 Memory - 2GB Corsair XMS2 (2x 1gb) Graphics - ATI HD3870 Hard Drives - 250GB Seagate DVD Drive - Lite-On DVD Burner - Lite-On Power Supply - Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL 600W 22" Acer widescreen AL2216WBD

03-08-2009, 05:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
theboy Gold Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 341	Yeah, it's at 15% right now. Do you think I got a good buy? $60 bucks isn't bad __________________ CPU::::::::AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester 2.2GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Mobo::::::GA-K8N51GMF-9 Memory:::2.5GB PSU:::::::Antec 380-Watt Monitor:::19"Widescreen 1440X900 5ms 500:1 OS::::::::(dual boot) Vista Ultimate/XP Pro

03-08-2009, 07:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
theboy Gold Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 341	Thanks for all the replies. Right now three hours into the format its at 33%. So I expect another 6 hours for a complete format. Kinda funny, I never would of thought it would have taken this long. Am I gaining anything for doing a low level format? Maybe less defrags in the future? p.s. This HD design is quite interesting. It has aluminum and bamboo, on the external enclosure. It's been formatting for some time now (3hrs) and the enclosure isn't hot or anything __________________ CPU::::::::AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester 2.2GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Mobo::::::GA-K8N51GMF-9 Memory:::2.5GB PSU:::::::Antec 380-Watt Monitor:::19"Widescreen 1440X900 5ms 500:1 OS::::::::(dual boot) Vista Ultimate/XP Pro

03-08-2009, 07:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
theboy Gold Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 341	Maybe I am impatient but I had the HD sitting vertically this whole time, and just moved it flat. Maybe the HD has less strain now and going to go faster. It's at 38% Maybe next time I will just run a quick format. __________________ CPU::::::::AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester 2.2GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Mobo::::::GA-K8N51GMF-9 Memory:::2.5GB PSU:::::::Antec 380-Watt Monitor:::19"Widescreen 1440X900 5ms 500:1 OS::::::::(dual boot) Vista Ultimate/XP Pro

03-08-2009, 06:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
tyttebøvs Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 520	It takes a long time, because a "full" format checks every sector on the harddrive. The quick format skips that.

03-08-2009, 07:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
tyttebøvs Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 520	You might spot broken sectors (which you might not even notice, if the drive remaps them internally) thats it.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Newbie with Linux...	codeman0013	Operating Systems	34	01-04-2009 08:20 PM
USB 2.0 Hub (Transfer Rates)	Sarge00	Computer Accessories	2	01-16-2007 10:53 PM
How Do I Know if USB Port is 2.0?	dnamertz	Desktop Computers	6	11-19-2006 04:06 AM
No usb 2.0	halko120	Motherboards	5	04-18-2006 01:26 AM
Usb 2.0	Xpire	Motherboards	4	04-08-2006 04:56 PM