Question about XP format.

[NoctisReitop]

I was wondering what the difference was between, during the Windows XP install, the quick NTFS format v/s the regular NTFS format?

During the full (I presume) NTFS format:
It takes upwards of nearly two hours to complete the format of a 60Gb drive.
More than half of the time, it fails because of "possible errors on the disk." Usually, I'd try and try until it actually finishes formatting.

Recently, I had to format my computer for a fragged OS. I initially tried to to a full NTFS format. It failed. I was tired of dealing with my computer, for I'd been dealing with it all day, and decided to do the quick format instead. I've never done the quick format, for I was under the presumption that it wouldn't do as good a job as the full. It was done in no time, and for some reason, my Windows is running faster than any other format has before. My system has NEVER run this fast before. This has led me to wonder why.

[Reloadron]

<B>

Format versus Quick Format

When doing a clean install of Windows XP, after you’ve selected the partition where XP will be installed, you are presented with the option to format the drive or partition. The format options are:

Format the partition using the NTFS file system (Quick)
Format the partition using the FAT file system (Quick)
Format the partition using the NTFS file system
Leave the current file system intact (no changes)

The difference between the regular format versus the quick format is whether or not the volume is scanned for bad sectors using the chkdsk command. Both methods remove the files from the volume.

See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article:

Differences Between a Quick Format and Format During Windows XP Setup (Q302686)

That should explain it. Keep in mind a full format runs chkdisk looking for bad sectors which is time consuming.

Ron

</B>

[NoctisReitop]

Would running the full scan over the quick one ultimately have the OS running a bit slower?

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by NoctisReitop

Would running the full scan over the quick one ultimately have the OS running a bit slower?

In theory nope, not that I can see so I don't quite get the performance gain in speed unless other applications/programs you run have yet to be installed?

Maybe someone else has a thought on it?

Clueless in Cleveland
Ron

[Panda Man]

A format is a format, doesn't matter if its quick or full. It will not affect performance. What will however is a post install defragging


Now then, the issue here is that it IS finding errors. go to Start > Run > cmd and type

"chkdsk C: /f"

And let us know what it finds.