Hello!

What is the difference when formatting a HDD using the LLF tool and the Windows 7 integrated format (not the quick one, the slow one)?

Thank you!

PS: I'm also interested if there's a difference between a LLF tool format and Windows 7 installation's included diskpart command CLEAN ALL. Thanx!

No replies? Oh well. I have another question though - to fromat a USB connected (external) HDD, do I use the same method like for formatting an internal one? Is there anything to be careful about when formatting a USB connected HDD? Thank you.

Just a very quick Google search gave me this:

Regular Vs. Quick Format in Windows 7
http://www.lockergnome.com/windows/2011/06/28/regular-vs-quick-format-in-windows-7/

Low level formatting - when, why and how
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/low-level-formatting.html

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well as in any operation you do on a computer, you should know what you are doing, and why.

So to answer this your steps should be to find out exactly what a format is. Nothing too deep is required, Wikipedia should be enough.
then you should look at what you have and what you are using it for.
get a general understanding of Fat32, NTFS if you are using windows, or Linux filesystems you might be using. You don't need to become a Rhodes Scholar in it, just a general understanding.

So anyway, an external or internal format is just the same, but it may depend on what you are doing. Example is if you have some 20Gb files, Fat32 is not going to be any good, you will probably want NTFS.

The one thing with externals that you DO have to be careful with is simply formatting the CORRECT drive. Sounds silly but you hear a lot stories like "My external Seagate is usually f: but I accidentally formatted my other WD one instead" or similar.