Format or Wipe Hard Drive

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dwatkins144

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May 9, 2014
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I'm about to reinstall Windows using the same hard drive. Is simply formatting the HDD really sufficient or is there benefit to using software to wipe it completely clean? Would wiping it result in better performance?
 
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rockie_
fast format is enough it wipes out all data from the main sector so the hdd is like a new one . After format fast/full no data structure will cap the performance . No need of fully erasing the data .
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Karsten75

Karsten75

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Oct 15, 2009
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If your hard drive is failing and has bad sectors that need reallocation, a full format can probably take care of that. Other than that I do not see a need or a benefit in doing anything other than letting the Windows Install process take care of it.

But then, I never install a new Windows OS on a drive that's already showing symptoms of drive failure.
 
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D_Know_WD

D_Know_WD

Judicious
Jul 30, 2014
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Hi there

Complete wipe or writing zeros while this is not really the case with format. I would personally go with a complete wipe. Formatting will do the job too. Regarding the bad sectors, I would say that reallocating them will only slow down the failing process. They will continue appearing.

Cheers,
D_Know_WD
 
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