[eleasias]

I built a new computer some time ago, and I had alot of problems with drivers, OS, and other problems, and I ended up formatting my hard drive several times before I got everything working cleanly. My question is, Can repeated formatting of a hard drive over time cause damage to the drive? and to what extent/how many formats will cause damage? thanks

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Yes formatting can cause damage.

EVERY read or write degrades the disk (a VERY SMALL amount). Formatting is a LOT of reads and writes. So it can do damage.

and to what extent/how many formats will cause damage?

that's impossible to answer. Any read or write could be the last on for that spot on the disk, some places on the disk are more important than others...

There is no way to give an accurate number for how many read or writes. Most disks can handle a LOT^many of reads/writes. The math/statistics needed to even give an accurate range is beyond me at this time (I may be able to do most of the math, but there's no gun to my head right now so I'll not even look at it). Also there are unknowable elements to this question...


Did I help at all?

a scandsk/chkdsk could let you know if there is a bad spot (and may recover some of the data if there is an issue). This will probably be your best bet until an UBER GEEK strolls in.

[bobmad]

Yes formatting can cause damage.

EVERY read or write degrades the disk (a VERY SMALL amount). Formatting is a LOT of reads and writes. So it can do damage.

and to what extent/how many formats will cause damage?

that's impossible to answer. Any read or write could be the last on for that spot on the disk, some places on the disk are more important than others...

There is no way to give an accurate number for how many read or writes. Most disks can handle a LOT^many of reads/writes. The math/statistics needed to even give an accurate range is beyond me at this time (I may be able to do most of the math, but there's no gun to my head right now so I'll not even look at it). Also there are unknowable elements to this question...


Did I help at all?

a scandsk/chkdsk could let you know if there is a bad spot (and may recover some of the data if there is an issue). This will probably be your best bet until an UBER GEEK strolls in.

[Wlkingman]

Never mind.. too slow.

Edited by Wlkingman, 18 May 2007 - 08:40 AM.

[eleasias]

Thanks alot, I appreciate the help

[dsenette]

i agree that any useage of a hard drive in effect shortens the life of the drive...this includes formatting....however i think bob's reply is a little "doom and gloom" ish....moving a file from one location to another (physically on the disk...which pretty much happens any time you open a file) will cause that section of the dirve to lose a small amount of longevity.....when i say small i mean really freakin small....

i have yet to hear of a drive dying because it's been formatted too much....assuming tha tyou've got a quality drive that's defect free....you'll be wanting to replace the drive because you've ran out of space...or because you just want a better one long before it dies due to repeated formatting