Fully format on HDD

Hello guys.

So I upgraded my whole rig except the HDD so that's the only drive I have in my computer. So the time has come where I'm buying a SSD! When I have that SSD, I should run everything else such as games, music, etc on the HDD. I haven't ever did a fully formatted it.

So there's a few types of formats I think. I want the full format.
WD released a software where you get the option to "Turn Zeroes". Is that a fully format? Should I use a software? Should I delete everything on the drive before turning zeroes if that's the way out?

Hit me!

seavixen32 said:

Fred, check this tutorial: SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Diskpart's Clean All command will do the job as explained in the tut.

Thank you seavixen!
Wouldn't it just be easier to install Windows on the SSD, and then use the WD utility to turn the zeroes?

Fred.

The Western Digital utility is great for completely erasing an old hdd. Its especially useful for companies who will be donating used systems, lets them totally erase any confidential material on hdd.

It is a very slow process, you'd be better off running a normal format if this is your personal system. Or are you donating your old PC and HDD and your wish is to totally erase all your data?

Darryl Licht said:

The Western Digital utility is great for completely erasing an old hdd. Its especially useful for companies who will be donating used systems, lets them totally erase any confidential material on hdd.

It is a very slow process, you'd be better off running a normal format if this is your personal system. Or are you donating your old PC and HDD and your wish is to totally erase all your data?

Nah I'm not donating anything. Should I do a quick format first (the one from the Win7 install maybe) before doing a turn zero on the utility?

Thank you.

with my SSD i just installed windows to it and then added my other hard drive and formatted it using windows. i cant possibly see how my rig can get any quicker lol it loads faster than i can click a mouse!

Thanks guys!

I just prepped my spinners for a clean install, on a new build.

I just backed up the DATA I needed to, and ran a CLEAN ALL on both of them
Afterwards, I created the new partitions and done a Full Format on each of them.

The Quick format is probably more than needed after a Clean All.
But I done it anyway :)

If you go this route, each step will take awhile, so be aware of that.
Clean All + Full Format took something like 4-5hrs each on my 1TB drives.


I actually though about running Acronis Drive sweeper, but ... that takes even longer and i didnt feel it was needed.