zero fill and low level format tool are the same??

[diezjackdaniels]

Well, i try to recover my seagate ide hard disk and i have a question about two programs to do this operation.
Hdd low level format tool and seagate seatool.
Seagate seatools have zero fill options, and hdd low level format tool, make magnetic marks in the disk.
My question is if both options are the same or are differents and what is the best for recover hard disk.
Help please.

[BlackST]

There is no "low level format" like old ST506 disks for modern drives : it is actually more or less a zero fill - regardless the fact it is written one "track" or one block as elementary unit.
Drives DO HAVE internal format that is more similar to what you call "low level format" but it can be invoked only with reserved commands - specific for brand / families.
If the problem is only some "bad blocks" , zerofill can (or cannot , depending on what happened) make them "go away". If the problem is deeper, only special procedures can fix the surface 100% (no delays, no bad blocks, all errors relocated).

[diezjackdaniels]

Thanks,
After your post i undertand that both programs are the same so there is no differents between use one or another program to do zero fill.
Many thanks

[BlackST]

Yes, maybe one is more "comfortable" about user interface, but the result and the purposes are the same.

P.S. some problems are not possible to be solved with simple zerofill.

[diezjackdaniels]

Many thanks

[robusco]

scusa BlackST, lo so che sono OT, ma...non ho più ricevuto notizie in MP riguardo la riparazione del mio WD. Mi avevi detto che dovevi rientrare dall'estero, sono sorti imprevisti?

[BlackST]

Appena rientrato (avantieri) ... "FUORI" = fuori sede, non estero !
Ho trovato mentre ero fuori quello che serve come parti, ti lascio un PM cosi' vediamo se posso aiutarti. Succede quando si e' superimpegnati !

(sorry for being OT - Just come back, "OUT" = out from work, not abroad!
While being out , I found what it takes (parts), leaving PM so maybe I can help you . It happens when you are super busy !