Reformatting NEW external HDD neccesary?

i just bought 2 new 1TB Mybook Studio (cute form factor but horrible build quality for the price).

Is low-level formatting of the drive after i just got it neccessary? Zero-out-all-data is low level formatting right?

or can i just partition the drive to GUID scheme and HFS+ (journaled).

what did you usually do when you've got a new harddrive? use it straight away?

also is installing the WD utilities neccesary? (i rather not have it installed)

 

I use it straightaway and I suppose companies perform LLF at factory before supplying the drives to retailers.

 

Hi.

I never bother with a full format nowadays the hdd`s are just too big, god knows how long it will take to format format a 1tb hdd.

I would just run WDdiags on it.

Regards

John.

 

thanks for the reply guys

also, when i was purchasing my drive, they swipe and slide my drive's box across a magnetic mat, to get rid of the alarm signature thing when i was going through the door.

do you think this will affect my drive in anyway?

 

nah it wont i go through air port security almost everyday - they have stronger xray machine that will right through your casing and hard drive.

I have never lost my data for the past 4 years.

 

Hi.

I would not worry about it just enjoy your new hdd, I am going to buy a WD 1tb external myself, I have the WD 500gb at the moment.

You have at least a years warranty anyway.

Regards

John.

 

didnt think you could get a 1tb 2.5" drive yet i wouldn't mind 1 of those inside my notebook.

 

Hi.

I wish i could get 1gb internal , but i said 1gb external check my post.

1tb 2.5 internal next year maybe

Regards

John.

 

wobble, stop being paranoid. Unless the magnet on the security removal thing is incredibly strong, it won't affect the HD in any way. Also, the drive is probably pre-formatted to FAT and it probably contains a few applications from the manufacturer (like all commercial external HDs nowadays), so it's up to you whether you want to reformat it or not, since it makes no difference.

 

i errr.... yeah... .... im a paranoid man...

 

Just quick format it to HFS+ if you have a strictly Mac computing environment.

 

Knock on wood! Even though drives these days are very reliable (Seagate has an impressive 5-year waranty), you never know when something might go wrong.

 

if you are just going to be using the HDD with a Mac I would definitely make sure it is formatted using the HFS+ file system for the Mac.

you can use disk utility to see how the drive is formatted.

 

I would re-format it into HFS+ if you are going to be constantly using the HDD with a Mac. circa86 hit it right on the head.

 

yeah.... if you actually read the post. the question is; do i need to zero-out-all-data (to do a low-level-format) or is changing the Partition scheme to GUID and quick format it to HFS+ enough.

about the warranty.... if you read the warranty agreement. the warranty states that they will first try to repair the drive, if they fail, they will sent you a REFURB drive. which i actually think its not worth the hassle of sending it in.

Seagate has 5 year (repair/refurb) warranty
WD has variable 3 years for standard line, 5 years for studio line (repair/refurb) warranty.

thanks for the reply so far

i think judging from this, most of you just do a quick format. i think thats what i'll do.

 

One example of when you'd do a full format is when you sell your hard-drive to someone else and want to make sure that your info is wiped completely off it.