Quick Format versus Format

[Laler]

I have installed windows vista on my system. When i try to repartition my hard disk (160gb) it ask for 'Quick Format' or 'Format'. Does any one know what are difference between Quick Format and format.Any help will be extremely appreciated.

[Rawko]

When you choose to run a regular format on a volume, files are removed from the volume that you are formatting and the hard disk is scanned for bad sectors. The scan for bad sectors is responsible for the majority of the time that it takes to format a volume.

If you choose the Quick format option, format removes files from the partition, but does not scan the disk for bad sectors. Only use this option if your hard disk has been previously formatted and you are sure that your hard disk is not damaged.

If you installed Windows XP on a partition that was formatted by using the Quick format option, you can also check your disk by using the chkdsk /r command after the installation of Windows XP is completed.

[RoninBlade]

Quick format pretty much just wipes out the FAT table and deletes the file and directory information at the root of the partition. Quick Format Erases the Drive's MFT file. All the information (other than the FAT and technically the first caracter of the root entires) is still there. Full Format Erases everything and resets all Magnetic platters.

[Calvin K]

The only difference is that a full format will test every sector of the hard disk where as a quick format does not and if there's a bad sector you could lose data later on. A "quick" format simply creates an empty directory structure which renders the disk "empty" for all intents and purposes. In general, I do quick formats on new drives and full formats on older drives. And it's completely pointless to do a full format on a virtual hard drive.