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    general question for reformatting...

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by katz, Feb 27, 2007.

  1. katz

    katz Notebook Enthusiast

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    i'm just wondering if there is any bad effect to your hard drive the number of times you reformat it... :confused:
     
    katz, Feb 27, 2007
    #1
  2. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    I would say very unlikely.
     
    ZaZ, Feb 27, 2007
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  3. mtor

    mtor Notebook Deity

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    No not at all
     
    mtor, Feb 27, 2007
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  4. adinu

    adinu I pwn teh n00bs.

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    I wouldn't go as far as that. Even the tiniest write/read/delete will affect the hd and it's life. While formatting several times won't lessen the lifetime by a lot, doing it over and over and over again will definitely impact it's lifetime.
     
    adinu, Feb 27, 2007
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  5. mujtaba

    mujtaba ZzzZzz Super Moderator

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    It was a concern with old hard drives.But not with today's HDD's.
     
    mujtaba, Feb 27, 2007
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  6. friedchicken

    friedchicken Notebook Enthusiast

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    same with today's hd as old hd. constant reformating probably wont affect though because all the format does is remove tags and allow you to write over them. you're still working the disk and optical and those do have normal wear and tear when you use it to install os/progs after format.

    the less you use the hd, the longer it lasts =) but reformatting puts on the same stress as say normally downloading say a big file.
     
    friedchicken, Feb 27, 2007
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  7. Amber

    Amber Notebook Prophet NBR Reviewer

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    You shouldn't have any problems as long as you aren't formatting every month. I normally format about every 6 months. It gives it a nice clean feel and gets all of the junk off.
     
    Amber, Feb 27, 2007
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  8. katz

    katz Notebook Enthusiast

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    ok, thanks for some insights. at least, i know what are prons and cons. :)
     
    katz, Feb 27, 2007
    #8