Low level and high level format
Posted: October 15th, 2009, 7:22
by codehacker
In windows you can quickformat and format. Is the format in windows the same as zero filling?
Re: Low level and high level format
Posted: October 15th, 2009, 15:47
by shahij
Re: Low level and high level format
Posted: October 15th, 2009, 16:26
by codehacker
Thanks, that was what i thought - but is there a good "zero filler" out there that preferably can be run from an PE OS on a USB stick? Also looking for a dito antivirus tool, but thats an other forum, i know.
Re: Low level and high level format
Posted: October 21st, 2009, 21:41
by tonyc
A very good drive wiping tools is Darik's Boot and Nuke DBAN for short. You can find it at
www.dban.orgIf you are using, or have access to Windows Vista, the long or Full Format will zero fill or wipe the drive. This is a behaviour change that not many people seem to know about. See:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941961 Test it. I have and can verify that a FULL Vista format will write zeros to every sector then write the file system information.
Vista Full Format = Death to Data
Tonyc