write zero

[shaw_ren]

what kind of condition the HDD must doing write zeros
what's the advantage and disavantage after did write zeros on the HDD

[galapogos]

Huh? In English please?

[shaw_ren]

wrong??
i using WD data lifeguard diagnostics program..
there is an option for write zeros test...

[galapogos]

I don't understand what you are saying/asking. Maybe someone else does...

[shaw_ren]

actually i want to know the advantage and disavantage after write zero done on the HDD

[galapogos]

If you want to wipe your HDD then you can write zeroes to it. Otherwise why would you want to do so?

[radioactive28]

Write zeros:

advantage
- wipe all data off your hard drive, no one can casually see your files
- might repair bad sectors

disadvantage
- you lose all data on your drive

[shaw_ren]

i did it because the HDD can't be format ..maybe there are some bad sectors..
after write zeros..the HDD become working and formatable..

so the lifespan of the HDD can become shorted?
bad sectors can occur again?

[ysquare]

i did it because the HDD can't be format ..maybe there are some bad sectors..
after write zeros..the HDD become working and formatable..

so the lifespan of the HDD can become shorted?
bad sectors can occur again?

It remapped the bad sectors to the spare sectors there were not used at first when u do a low level format. Lifespan still the same. But if your bad sectors were growing, more bad sectors will occur. If it is an isolated case then not much problem.

[ysquare]

More info after I googled....

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/geom/formatUtilities-c.html
"This type of utility can also be used to "hide" bad sectors by telling the drive to remap them to its collection of spares. Just remember that a drive that continues to "grow" bad sectors over time is one whose reliability is highly suspect. I discuss this matter in more detail here."
from the link given

[eddy2099sg]

Typically there is no advantage of doing the write zero test. Under normal circumstances, you only do it if you are disposing or selling your harddisk and do not want the new owner access to your own harddisk.

When you do the write zero test, it basically will write from the first to the last sector of the harddisk and in doing so can determine if any of the sector is bad and remap it.

If however your harddisk's bad sector is growing and it is not due to a virus then you might want to look at getting a harddisk replacement and copy as much data as possible over to the new harddisk.

[galapogos]

Secure Erase is a much better and faster way of wiping your HDD.

[vofzxy]

LOL
dug up this old thread.

i recently "write zeros" on my WD 320GB
and now it does not appear as a drive on windows.

How do i reformat it?

cheers

[galapogos]

Use Disk Management to create a new partition and then format it.