Rookie essentials: Ultra-practical low-level format method _windowsxp

the function of low-level format of HDD 　

HDD Low grid format is the most thorough initialization of the hard disk, after the low lattice of the hard drive, the original protection of the data will be lost, so generally low grid hard disk is very undesirable, only very necessary when the low grid hard disk. And this so-called necessary time there are two, one is the hard drive factory, hard drive will be a low-level format of the hard disk, the other is when the hard disk appears some type of bad, use low-level format can play a certain relief or shielding role.

For the first case, there is no need to say, because the hard drive before the factory's low grid work only the hard drive engineers will be contacted, for ordinary users, there is no need to consider this matter. As for the second case, what type of bad DAO needs a low lattice? Before you explain this critical issue, take a look at the type of hard drive bad track.

In general, bad DAO can be divided into physical bad way and logical bad way. The logical bad road is relatively easy to solve, it refers to the hard disk in the written by the long time interference, resulting in ECC errors. From the process, it refers to the hard disk when writing data, will use ECC logic to regroup the data, the general operating system to write 512 bytes, but in fact, the hard drive will write more than dozens of bytes, and all of these bytes will be used to verify the ECC code, If the ECC correction code from the original byte is different from that of the read Byte, then an ECC error is generated, which is the so-called physical bad cause.

As for the physical bad, it is more lethal to the damage of the hard disk, it also has soft and hard physical bad way, the disk surface physical damage is hard, this is impossible to repair. As a result of the external impact of the data write errors, the system will also be considered a physical bad, and the physical bad can be repaired using some hard disk tools (such as the test-repair software provided by the hard disk manufacturer), and some hard disk tools (such as data from the west) for the small hard disk surface damage Lifeguard Tools) can be redirected to a good retention sector to correct errors.

For these types of bad, hard physical bad is definitely impossible to repair, it is one of the most direct damage to the surface of the hard disk, so even a lower grid or a hard drive tool cannot be repaired (unless it is a very minor damage, some of the tools can keep this part of the bad track from being used for this purpose).

For bad logic on the hard drive or for soft physical problems, users can try to use low-level format to block the effect of bad DAO, but it needs to be pointed out that shielding bad way is not equal to eliminate bad way, low grid hard drive all the partitions are deleted, but the bad way is still there, shielding just the bad way to hide, Do not allow users to store data in the use of these bad, so that to some extent to ensure the reliability of user data, but the bad word will be with the hard disk partition, the number of formats to spread.

Therefore, the author does not recommend the user to the hard disk, how the hard drive in the warranty period is best to warranty or find a dealer for a piece, that can be said to be the best solution, but also the most thorough solution. If the hard drive is not allowed to change after the warranty period, try the low grid hard drive to prevent data loss from storing the data in bad ways.

For how to do the hard drive low grid, generally use the low grid tool to operate, this will be described in detail in the following sections, here to say some related topics. That is, the low grid tool and the hard disk detection tool are essentially different, the low lattice tool is to the hard disk for the role of low lattice, and hard disk detection tools are generally used to detect hard disk manufacturers, early detection of hard disk errors to remind users to back up important data or overhaul the hard disk, it is not used for low grid hard disk.

　　 using debug assembly language for low-level formatting

Low-level formatted hard disk can complete the destruction of data on the hard drive, so be careful before you operate. Hard drive low lattice has many methods, for example, directly in the CMOS to the hard drive low lattice, or using assembly language for hard disk low lattice, and the most common than the use of some tool software to the hard disk, common low lattice tools have Lformat, DM and hard disk manufacturers to launch a variety of hard disk tools.

Assembly is a relatively low-level programming language, it can be very convenient to direct the operation of hardware, and operating efficiency is very high, if the software system needs direct operation of hardware, often used is assembly language. The use of the assembly can also be used for low-level format of the hard disk, it is more flexible than DM, such as tool software, the specific application is to use the debug program, and the specific operation is in the debug environment, the call stored in the BIOS in the low-level format program (CMOS direct low lattice hard disk calls is also this section of the low grid program). The implementation method usually has the following three kinds:

　　 (1), directly invoke the low grid program in the BIOS ROM

In many computer BIOS ROM stored in the low grid program, the address from the c8005h address, the specific operation is as follows:

A:\>debug

-G c800:0005 (//) The screen display information (different versions of the BIOS may display different information), enter after the prompt:

The current interleave is 3 select New Interleave or returns for current (//This requires the user to select the crossover factor, the default value of 3 by carriage return, or the new crossover factor value, and the cross factor of the hard drive is typically 3. So direct return can be. The screen then prompts:)

Are you dynamically configuring the Drive-answer y/n t

Press "Y" to begin formatting the drive C:with interleave 03 (//Type "Y" and start to lower the hard disk)

Formatting ... (//After completion to ask whether to handle bad tracks)

Do your want to format bad Track-answer y/n?

If not, answer with "N". Screen display:

Format Successful,system'll new Restart,insert Dos diskette indrive A:

Insert system disk to a drive, you can partition, advanced format and other operations to install the system.

　　 (2), by calling the int 13H break 7th function to the hard drive low lattice

The operation is as follows:

A:\>debug

-A 100

-xxxx:0100 MOV ax,0703; (//Cross factor 3)

-xxxx:0103 MOV cx,0001 (//0 Track 0 sector)

-xxxx:0106 MOV dx,0080; (//c Disk 0 track)

-xxxx:0109 INT 13

-XXXX:010B INT 3

-xxxx:010d

-G 100

So the hard drive will be low lattice.

　　 (3), call int 13H interrupt 5th function

Calls to the hard disk for int 13H interrupt 5th function only low grid 0 face 0 1 sectors, without having to lower the entire hard disk, so that the lower grid in a very short time to complete. The specific actions are as follows:

A:>debug

-A 100

-xxxx:0100 MOV ax,0500; (//Call number 5th function)

-xxxx:0103 MOV bx,0180; (//Set buffer address)

-xxxx:0106 MOV cx,0001 (//0 track 1 sector)

-xxxx:0109 MOV dx,0080; (//c Disk 0 track)

-XXXX:010B INT 13

-XXXX:010D INT 3

-e 0180 0 0 0002; (//write parameters)

-G 100

　　 use DM for low-level formatting 　　

The full name of DM is hard disk Management program, which can be used for low-level format, calibration and other management work, can improve the use of hard disk efficiency. In general, DM has the following functions: HDD low-level format, partition, advanced format, hard disk parameter configuration and other functions.

In practical applications, the DM tool is the same as a normal DOS command (such as FDISK or format), and its command format is: A:>DM [parameters]. The following values are desirable for the parameters:

<>/M DM software to manually enter, such as without this parameter, DM to automatically run, followed by the implementation of initialize. Partitiong. Preparafion.

<>/C DM software is performed in color, that is, running on a color display.

<>/P DM software manages the hard drive in a pc/xt way.

<>/A DM software manages the hard drive in a pc/at way.

<>/2 DOS 2.XX version mode.

<>/3 DOS 3.XX version mode.

<>/4 DOS 4.XX version mode (only DM 5.01 has this parameter).

<>/V DM runs in a way that can change the cluster length and root entries.

The following two ways are commonly used in actual use:

1, A:&GT;DM (automatic mode. When initializing a hard disk, many parameters are used with a default value of almost no human intervention.

2, A:&GT;DM (manual method. Some parameters are manually specified when formatting.

Start DM tool, the user can according to their own needs to choose the appropriate operation, because it is also in the form of a DOS user interface, so the use is very simple and clear.

　　 Other low-level formatting methods

In addition to the two low grid tools described above, there are many other low-level formatting methods.

　　 1. Direct operation in CMOS

If the motherboard support, users can directly in the CMOS hard drive low-level format, this method is very simple and convenient, so if possible, I recommend this method for hard disk low lattice. Specific methods of operation: In the boot system prompts to enter the CMOS setup (if it is award and other bios, will be prompted to enter the Cmossetup, if it is an Intel motherboard, generally press F2 into the CMOS setup), and then select Low in the CMOS menu Formatted harddisk drive selection, and then according to the program prompts to lower the hard disk, while answering some program questions can be hard drive low-level format.

　　 2, lformat.com program low-grid hard disk

In addition to DM tools, there is a relatively common low grid program is Lformat.exe, it is by the company launched the low-level format of the hard disk tool. After running Lformat.exe in DOS, the program starts the warning interface as shown in Figure 3-3-43. The general meaning in this screen is that if the user uses the tool, all the data on the hard drive will be lost, so it is recommended that you back up the necessary data before running it, and recommend that you remove all other hard drives. If the user forgets to back up the data and wants to quit the program, you can press any key except Y, and if the user confirms the low stick on the hard drive, press the Y key.

If you select "Y", the program will ask the user to select the hard drive or the current hard drive to the low grid, and then, ask and answer a few questions, you can start the hard drive low-level format process.