[RESOLVED] Low Level Format Utility?

[mighty_pirate]

I would like to low level format an NEC model DSE2010A hard drive. "lf.exe" which I got here off of WinDrivers did not work and has left the drive unusable. Could someone recommend another utility that might properly low level format it?

[SoccerFiend76]

how do you know if the format did not work? It is left unusable by default as the drive is completely reset. before it can be used you need to set up partitions using fdisk even if you only want 1 partition. once that is done you need to actually FORMAT the drive so that it can be used by win/linux/os2.etc installers

chances are the LLF worked but these steps are necesary to make the drive work again

cheers,

GBJ

[mighty_pirate]

At the end of the low level format there were well over 100 write error messages, looked like one for every cylinder and head. They flew by the screen so fast it's hard to tell exactly how many. After rebooting, before getting to dos, you get a 'primary master hard disk failure' message. After getting to dos and attempting to run fdisk, you get a message that says there is no hard disk. Therefore, it can't be partitioned. I repeated the entire process with the drive as slave, and the only difference is you get a 'primary slave hard disk failure' message. The disk was running fine as a slave before I ran the low level format on it. Suggestions?

[lysergic]

Sounds like you have a dead drive my friend. Or you might have had the util do a low level with LBA on when the bios does not support it. But you can also go over to maxtors web site and download a program called maxllf. Does a good god and all. Or if you have a copy of microscope, you can use it. Just do a write test under diags.

[bandit78]

Is that an IDE drive?? IF it is, then you're screwed!! NEVER,NEVER,NEVER LOW LEVEL FORMAT AN IDE DRIVE!! IT WILL RUIN THE DATA PLATTERS ON THE DRIVE. LLF IS ONLY FOR SCSI DRIVES.....

[Darren Wilson]

I have Low Level Formatted IDE drives to recover them with no problems at all!!!!!!! THe myth about Low Levelling IDE drives goes back to the old original IDE devices which did not like them, I think Seagate where the company that told users not to do so they could sell more drives instead of users recovering their old ones. Like previous posts suggest, DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK..

THe best low level utility is available from the QDI webiste at http://www.qdigrp.com . Go to the support section

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