All you need to know about Low-Level format (undo bad sectors)

Here are some advices, how to make a Low-Level format to destroy your bad sectors !!!

P. S. Sorry for my bad English, I'm a Slovenian.

1. Download the Low-Level format Utilitys:

I've downloaded some Low-Level format utilitys from Maxtor, WD… web sides, but I tested only two of them. Download it of a floppy disk:

a) The first utility I've test it, I become from a friend, and I really don't know from which company it was. I just know, that I was formatting a very old disk (I think it was IBM 1.2G). The formatting was finished earlier than one hour.

Download it here.

b) The second utility is from Western Digital. I've tested it on a WD205BA and I was surprised, because the formatting was finished in 15 minutes. But if you use this utility and you do a "disk check", you wouldn't know if you really have bad sectors, because the utility don't review it.

Download it here.

c) The third utility is from Maxtor, but I didn't test it. I just have the documentation and it would be enough.

Download it here.

I was checking for some utility from IBM, and Seagate, but I didn't find it.

2. Creating a system disk:

It's recommended that you have a Win 98 or WinME system disk.

a) Win98, WinME systems:

If you have installed one of this two systems, just click "Start", then go to "Settings -> Control Panel" and click "Add-Remove Programs", than go to "Startup disk", and click "create disk". Than insert a floppy disk.

b) Win2000 or WinXP systems:

Insert a floppy disk. Than download the Backup copy (the Backup disk is from a Win98 SE English system and includes Deltree and Doskey). Now click "Start" and go to "Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Backup". Click the "Restore Wizard -> Next" and Import the downloaded file and select "A:", looks like this:

Than click "Next -> Finish -> OK".

Now you have it, your system disk.

3. Changing BIOS boot device:

Now you are ready to format you hard disk. Restart you machine and press delete (if you see some stuff like this: Award Modulator BIOS v6.00PG…) to enter BIOS setup. Go to "Advanced BIOS Features" and change the devices like this:

First boot device: Floppy
Second boot device: HDD-0
Third boot device: CDROM

Save settings and exit BIOS setup. You can format your hard disk now.

That's all. If you have problems just E-Mail me (before you format your hard disk ).