Windows 7: WD Advanced Format

I'm cornfused. I have one of the new WD15EARS drives. It formatted with NTFS Through Windows at 1.36TB with 133 MB used. I don't have a problem with that. I Know about the 1024 thingy and the system uses up some space. What I am struggling with is WD has an alignment tool that evidently only works with a disk that has been formatted with the advanced format tool. Now WD supplies a WD True Image app that will handle the advanced format. But I have not loaded it because I allready have Acronis True Image 2010 loaded and running. I am wondering if it will bork my present app with both of them loaded. Then I read a couple of places that there is a very small advantage to the advanced format. So it might not really be needed (advanced format). What is everybody else doing?

I don't really have an answer for your other question but I don't even think you can have "both" instances of Acronis True image installed. I too have ATI 2010 and a few WD hard drives but haven't even looked at Western Digital's offering since I already have the program.

Bottom line... you could try installing WD's version, but don't be surprised if you get something saying you already have a version installed, in which case you'll have to choose between your current version, or WD's offering.

As to the alignment tool, I know nothing about it since I haven’t used it. And I have WD’s Caviar Black 1TB SATA 6 (64meg cache) HD.

My two cents.

Your right sig I tried Acronis' "Try and decide" with the intention of discarding the install. I was wanting to make a boot cd. The install detected my other ver and aborted. I discovered with the alignment tool You can make a boot disk. Created one and boots up fine. Couldn't find the disk so I put a partition on it with Win. Tried again. The alignment tool could then identify it as advanced capable But when I try to select it, it won't select it and you can't go to the next step. The alignment tool in windows does the same thing. I tried an ntfs format still no go. But with ntfs the disk is usable.

You need to check the Acronis forums but I'm 99.9 percent sure you can make a boot CD with your current version of ATI 2010. And I say 99.9 because the .1 says I hadn't done mine it yet

In fact, it's highly recommended that you DO make a boot CD. I would look it up for you, but I'm a bit lazy at the moment. Sorry.

Edit.... If you've registered your product with Acronis, you can get the....

You can also get the free plug-in BartPE & SafeMedia. Here's an old thread on the subject... "plugins" BartPE and safemedia | Forums

In order to get these you need to register your product with Acronis.

Good luck

I am registered. I have boot disks. They don't have the Advanced capability. Now I have one that does. But it doesn't work so far. Boots fine but cant work on the disk with it. I'll try again tomorrow. It is not the boot disk because the win ver of the alignment tool won't work on the disk either. One thing I do know I can use the disk with a NTFS format so all is not lost.

I'm not familiar with the advanced capability tool so I can't help you there. Sorry.

Good luck.

I don't think I had a problem. Everything seems OK.

Here is a write up on the Advanced Format. According to WD the drive is ready to go using Vista or Windows 7. The alignment tool is only needed using Windows XP. Check the label on your drive and see if it states that also.

http://www.pcper.com/comments.php?nid=8113


Jim