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How f*cked am I?!?!


colemancb

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Just for the record, here is what Microsoft has to say over the issue:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302686/en-us

The only difference between a quick and a full format is the scanning (and mapping) of bad sectors, on a perfectl yhealthy volume this won't make any difference in the recoverability of data after a format.

This:

files are removed from the volume that you are formatting

should be read as:

files are removed from the "indexing system" or "list of file addresses" stored either in FATs (File Allocation Tables) or in NTFS MFT (Master File Table) of the volume that you are formatting

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/fat_FATs.htm

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/ntfs/archMFT-c.html

In other words, existing files are NEVER deleted by a format, whilst information on where the files are IS deleted.

Data is generally better recovered if the files are contiguous, so running a Defrag program periodically does help to have better recovery resilts, should a disaster happen.

Something everyone should read (Free E-book, also available for download):

http://www.easeus.com/data-recovery-ebook/index.htm

On the other hand, if you are going to sell or give away your old hard disk, it is a good idea to WIPE it's contents.

Generally writing 00's to the entire drive is more than enough.

Don't be misled by all the fluff about the Guttman Theory:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...c=2683&st=6

jaclaz

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I appreciate all of the advice. I went with DiskInternals' software and it worked fine. Win2K installation did finish, but I hadn't installed anything, because I knew as soon as I navigated to what I thought was my data drive to install drivers and such. But, yeah, it all seems good now...thanks for all the help!

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