msheseltine schrieb:
> Hello,
> 
> Is it normal to take 3 hours just to format 50% of a 160 GB hard
> drive? I used the long format option. I expect it will take a total of
> 6 hours to format the drive. Is this normal!!!??? Why does it take so
> long? Is this necessary? What happens if I use quick format only? 

Yes, it is really normal because the long format writes each and any 
bit on the partiton/volume to clean up and test for read/write 
capabilities of them. Bad sectors are dedected and reassigned.

A quick format writes only the basic maintenance data on the disk. In 
case of some events like power failture that will bring back data you 
are thinking they were going list years ago, hindering chkdsk on 
cleaning the whole disk, filling up the real free space with old 
useless data.

That means it is worth the time long format needs because it reduces 
the chance to get a 200% full disk even as there was 90% free space 
before power fail occured. It increases the chance of a well recover 
from power fail on a really full disk significantly.


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