Formatting

[raijen]

Hello,
yes, is formatting the hard drive alot going to make it die sooner than not formatting it?

 

[darkguset]

Formatting a hard drive is a necessary process to "initialise it" and be able to use it for the first time as a user. So, no it is not affecting its lifespan. If formatting for the first time i suggest using a full format (not quick) so that the disk can detect and flag any bad sectors out.

 

[rockyjohn]

Also reformating a HD does not have any material affect on its life.

However, solid state disc drives are different - and that is what you may have been thinking about. Since ssds essentially have a limited number of write cycles, reformating wears them out more quickly, but I think the difference is fairly small for just one or a few writes.

 

[raijen]

'm talking 10 times a week or so..

 

[raijen]

for over a year and a half... bad huh?

 

[darkguset]

I do not think there is solid evidence that formatting a hard drive often reduces its lifespan by much and i would not think so. The only real downtime i see in that is the loss of the user's time doing that. Why would you format your HD so much? lol

 

[rockyjohn]

raijen, are you sure you are not confusing formatting with defragmenting?
Reformating completely removes all software. Do you reload your OS and all applications 10 times a week?
And if it is defragging - why do that so much? What percentage of your files are fragmented each time before you defrag?