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ventuss

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 9, 2011
372
19
What is the difference btw the fast disk format and the long one? Does it harm the drive?
 
What is the difference btw the fast disk format and the long one? Does it harm the drive?

Does it harm the drive? It depends on what you mean by "harm." Both Fast and "Long" format will destroy the data on your drive.

The "Long" format that you are referring to, probably is a more "secure" form of formatting that will write a series of 1 an 0 over each sector to help prevent other from recovering your data.

In many cases, only a "fast" format is needed. Sometimes, drive corruption might be eliminated by doing the "long" format.
 
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