UPGRADING REPAIRING PCs

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Hard Disk Preparation
The formatting process for a hard disk drive subsystem has three
major steps:
1. Low-level formatting
2. Partitioning
Chapter 4—SCSI and IDE Hard Drives and Optical Drives
3. High-level formatting
Table 4.19 outlines the steps for preparing a drive for use after
installation.
Table 4.19 Comparing the Steps in the Formatting Process
Process Step When Necessary How Performed
Low-level IDE and SCSI hard drives
formatting (LLF) are low-level formatted
at the factory; reformat
only to correct errors.
With SCSI only, to Use factory-supplied LLF or
configure drive for use diagnostic utilities; use Ontrack
with a specified host Disk Manager (generic or OEM
adapter and its driver version); use MicroScope
software. This is usually version 7 software for IDE. For
required for Windows SCSI, use the host adapter’s
3.x/MS-DOS systems, BIOS or software routines (such
but not for Windows 9x as Adaptec’s EZ-SCSI) if
systems. necessary.
Partitioning Always required for both Use operating system utility
SCSI and IDE hard drives; (FDISK or equivalent) if BIOS
indicates which portion provides full support for drive
of the drive will be used capacity; EZ-Drive, Disk
for each operating system Manager, and similar products
and how the drive letters can be used for both FDISK and
will be defined. FORMAT options.
With SCSI drives under
Windows 3.x/MS-DOS, hostadapter–specific
partitioning
and formatting routines are
normally used.
High-level Always required for all Use operating system utility
formatting drive letters defined by (FORMAT or equivalent); EZ-
FDISK or partitioning Drive, Disk Manager, and
utility. similar products can be used for
both FDISK and FORMAT
options.
With SCSI drives under
Windows 3.x/MS-DOS, hostadapter–specific
partitioning
and formatting routines are
normally used.