Unlike a normal format that we usually carry out, which only erases the file system, what a low-level format does is erase each and every one of the sectors on the hard drive surface. In this way, the data that was saved on the hard disk cannot be recovered, since all disk sectors have been emptied during the process, filling all sectors of the disk with “0”. Thus, as we mentioned before, what we really achieve is to maintain our privacy regarding the stored data if we are going to pass that drive to another person.
This type of formatting also not only erases the data and makes it impossible (or very complicated) to recover, but it can also help us solve problems on the hard drive, for example, sectors that have been damaged or corrupt. Of course, at this point we must always take into account that while others will not be able to recover data here, the same will happen if we ourselves try to restore certain files deleted by mistake.
A low-level format in the past was equivalent to leave the hard drive as fresh from the factory. However, this technique could only be performed by manufacturers or the most advanced technicians. A user can’t perform an LLF to a hard drive like that just because. But there are techniques equivalent to a low-level format that will allow us to fill all the sectors of the hard disk with “0” and erase the data to leave the disk as fresh from the factory.
Low-level formatting can be useful when hard drives or removable storage devices have bad tracks, or when Windows cannot complete a format due to write protection. On the contrary, this type of formatting can damage the hard drive and takes a long time. A format of this type for a 1 TB hard drive can exceed 40 hours, to give us an idea of the patience we must have at this point.
It is worth mentioning that to carry out all this, we have at our fingertips some interesting software proposals to download and use on the PC. Perhaps the most popular program of this type for all this is HDD Low Level Format, which we will talk about now.
Features of HDD Low Level Format
HDD Low Level Format It is a free program (although with limitations) that will allow us to clean all the sectors of a hard drive and fill in its information with “0” and other random data. In this way, through a very simple interface and a process free of risks and complications, we are going to be able to leave our hard drive as similar as it had just left the factory.
This program is compatible with virtually all hard drives that we can find in the market. In addition to working seamlessly with all brands, it is compatible with all types of connections, such as IDE, SATA, SAS, SCSI, and M.2. It works with normal hard drives and solid-state drives (SSDs), although due to the large number of writes this program performs on the drive, it is not recommended to use it on the latter. It can be used on internal and external hard drives, as well as USB sticks and SD cards.
This program can be used free, although with a speed limitation of 50 MB/s (which is equivalent to formatting 180 GB every hour). If we pay $3.30, we can remove this speed limitation and format the disks at full speed.
How to format a hard drive with HDD Low Level Format
When opening the program, the first thing we will see will be a window like the following.
In it, as we will see, all the hard drives and all the storage units that we have connected to the computer will appear. Then, the only thing left to do is select the disk that we want to format. We must be sure to choose the corresponding disk and not make mistakes. If we make a mistake when selecting the disk, we will be losing all the data.
When we have the unit selected, we can see a new window, with 3 tabs, like the following. In the first tab we will be able to see a technical data overview of the unit. Useful to make sure we have chosen the correct unit.
The eyelash “SMART” allows us to obtain SMART data from our hard drive, which allows us to know, among other things, your state of health. If we are selecting USB memories or SD cards, since we do not have SMART, we will not be able to know their health status.
And thirdly, the tab that interests us: Low Level Format. From here is where we are going to launch the formatting process. The only thing that we can highlight in this window is the “quick wipe” box that allows us to perform a quick format on the hard drive, deleting only the MBR, but not overwriting the data. If we leave this box unchecked, then this is when we will perform the low-level format.
We click on «Format this device» and the formatting process will begin. This process can take quite a long time. Even several hours. It depends on the total size of the hard drive and the speed. During the process, all partitions will be erased and the data that was stored on the hard drive will be destroyed.
We wait for the process to finish and that’s it. When it reaches 100% we will have our hard drive formatted. Of course, we remember that during the process a complete erasure of the entire disk is carried out, including the partition table. Therefore, before we can use this disk again we will have to create a new partition table (MBR or GPT), and format at least a complete or partial partition.
What to do after low level format
Once the formatting process is finished, before we can use the hard drive, we have to format it. We can do this from Windows itself, since, when connecting the unit, it will show us a message like the following that will allow us to completely format the unit.
In addition, we can also resort to other programs, such as MiniTool Partition Wizardwhich will allow us to easily format the unit that we have just made the LLF.
The case is to format the unit that we just formatted. After doing so, we will have all the space available on it and we can start saving our data in it without problems.
Discharge
We can download this program for free from the . We can choose if we want to download an installable version of the program or if we prefer a version portable. It is worth mentioning that one of the main advantages of this second option is that we can use the program without installing it on the PC. At the same time we can always carry it with us on a USB memory. So we will use it on any computer where we need it, for example, if we are going to fix a friend’s PC.
At the same time, something that we must keep in mind is that this type of program has been gaining in use over time and, therefore, in popularity and importance. This is largely due to the fact that we are dealing with an increasing amount of proprietary data on our computers, and it is more sensitive than ever. Therefore, carrying out a correct treatment of these storage units is more important than ever. This is something that we can carry out both from the first formatting of the unit, as is the case, to its subsequent use. If we plan to sell our second-hand computer to a stranger, a low-level format will be the most recommended.
Worth?
Based on the fact that Windows does not offer us the option of low-level formatting any unit that we have connected to the computer, obviously it is worth using HDD Low Level Format, as long as we have some compelling reason to do so. If we just want to delete all the content that is stored on a unit, using the native Windows function is more than enough, since, in addition, we will have the possibility of recovering the content that has been deleted (although not always can). The formatting that Windows does is responsible for eliminating the content, leaving traces that, using the appropriate tools, can recover its content.
However, as we have explained in this article, when performing a low-level format, all the data is deleted from the root, replacing all the data in the hard drive sectors with 0, so that no data can be recovered. , at least in a simple way (in computing nothing is impossible). Using this option is only recommended if we plan to sell the computer where the hard drive is connected or an external hard drive that we want to sell, since the process is much slower than if we opted for a normal format, to call it something that we can easily understand.
Alternatives to low-level formatting
If we want to be able to format our hard drive at a low level, HDD Low Level Format is not the only option we have available for it. Given that it is not especially indicated for SSD drives and that its formatting process is very slow, it is likely that we are interested in some alternatives to be able to carry out this task:
- : We are talking about a tool to perform low-level formats for HDDs. It is free for home use and with it we will be able to erase and format SATA, IDE, SAS, SCSI or SSD drives. It also works with any USB and FIREWIRE external drive enclosure, as well as SD, MMC, MemoryStick and CompactFlash media.
- : This is an application specially designed to perform low-level formatting of magnetic hard drives (SATA and ATA), but not for SSD drives. It is compatible with any brand of hard drive and will take care of erasing and overwriting existing data up to three times to make recovery difficult. It has a free version for personal use.
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