First you need to know what time it is necessary to format your hard drive in the low level. On the one hand, for repair purposes: low-level formatting can be used for shielding the bad sectors on hard disk, so as to prolong its service life, or completely remove stubborn computer virus!
HDD Low Level Format Tool v4.12
As a freeware app for low-level hard disk drive formatting, this app does a decent job, but is not fool-proof. Formatting a large disk drive can take a long time and if a flash drive is write-protected, the HDD Low Level Format Tool fails to format it.However, the app is free for personal use, making it a decent option if you do not have a particularly large drive to format. Even if you want to upgrade to remove the speed limit, the fee is minimal at $3.30. Even a commercial license is only $27.Pro's: Freeware app with a low upgrade fee makes it financially accessible to everyone. Effectively restores seemingly irreparable drives affected by viruses or constant data corruption.Con's: Can take a long time to work on larger disk drives, causing users to think it does not work and interrupt the process. Using the freeware version it takes approximately 12 hours to process 2TB.Conclusion: The HDD Low Level Format Tool is not the most advanced option available, but as a freeware app it does provide good value to users looking to rescue their hard disk drive.
Under unixoid systems you can do it with "hdparm". You need to get "root" first, then do the following. This is assuming that the drive you want to low-level format is "/dev/sda" and that you have "hdparm" installed.
It should now display "enabled" under "Security:". This is quite a critical step. The device is now secured. If you power it down, it will lock and might become inaccessible. When you perform the low-level format NOW, security will be disabled again and you can continue using the device.
It should now display "enabled" under "Security:". This is quite a critical step. The device is now secured. If you power it down, it will lock and might become inaccessible. When you perform the low-level format NOW, security will be disabled again and you can continue using the device [ed. try --security-erase-enhanced first if your drive supports it].
A low-level format of the hard disk is the most thorough way to initialize the hard disk. After the Low-level format of the hard disk, the original saved data will be lost, so it is generally undesirable to perform low-level formatting on the hard disk. But when the hard disk has a certain type of bad sectors, in order to use the hard disk normally, you have to format the hard disk at a low level.
What's the best Low-level format tool that facilitates hard drive formatting? HDD Low Level Format Tool from HDDGURU receives positive feedbacks from personal/home users as well as commercial/professional users.
By using the HDD Low-level Format Tool, the hard drive Low-level formatting shall become easier and faster. Even a computer novice could make full use of it. Simply follow the guide to Low-level format a USB drive, pen drive, SD card, external hard drive, and more.
It doesn't finish yet after Low-level format your hard drive if you want to put it in normal use. The hard disk must undergo three processing steps: Low-level format, partition, and high-level format (hereinafter referred to as formatting) before the computer can use them to store data.
By wiki's explanation, low-level formatting marks the surfaces of the disks with markers indicating the start of a recording block and other information like block CRC to be used later, in normal operations, by the disk controller to read or write data. This is intended to be the permanent foundation of the disk and is often completed at the factory.
Low-level formatting is extremely helpful and significant when a hard disk drive or some removable storage devices developed bad tracks, such as track 0 bad, or Windows was unable to complete the format due to write protection. Besides, severe computer virus infection.
Low-level formatting does damage to the hard drive and accelerates its death. What's more, it's incredibly time-consuming. It is estimated that in the low-level format a hard drive of 320GB takes about 20 hours or even longer.
If you have to do low-level disk formatting, there are three typical approaches, including DOS command, inbuilt disk utility of disc or USB drive, and third-party low-level format tool (demonstrated in this article).
After low-level format, partition, and high-level format, your hard drive can be perfectly put in use even after experiencing a dead moment. For any problem during the process, you can contact our technical support for help via live chat or email support: [email protected].
The low-level format is to reset the contents of the disk, restore the factory state, divide the cylinder and the track, and divide the track into several sectors. Each sector is divided into the identification part ID, the interval GAP, and the data District DATA, etc. Low-level formatting is a job before high-level formatting. A low-level format can only target one hard disk and cannot support a single partition. Each hard drive has been Low-level formatted by the hard drive manufacturer when it leaves the factory, so users usually do not need to perform Low-level formatting operations.
The low-level format means clearing all sectors, including partition tables, boot sectors, etc. It is a very long, but quite effective way to delete private data, boot sector viruses, C-Dilla data, and a few more. Low-level formatting is a lossy operation, which has a certain negative impact on the life of the hard disk.
Formatting is divided into high-level formatting and low-level formatting. The high-level format simply clears data on the hard disk, generates boot information, initializes the FAT table, and marks logical bad sectors. The low-level format divides the hard disk into cylinders and tracks and then divides the tracks into several sectors, and each sector is divided into an identification part ID, a partitioned area, a GAP, and a data area DATA. The low-level format is a job before the high-level format.
HDD Low-Level Format Tool is a tool that will allow us to format a hard drive using Low-level Formatting (LLT). There are two ways to format a hard drive, Low-level Formatting and High-level Formatting (also known as File System Formatting). The system used greatly depends on the circumstances, even though the most used by the general users is the file system formatting, after which it is possible to write on the hard drive.
Physical formatting consists of placing small marks on the magnetic surface to divide it into sectors, these can later be used to find a specific location on the disc. Once finished, the hard drive will have to go through a high-level formatting process to be able to save files on it, because if we don't it will lack a file system.
HDD Low Level Format Tool as well as allowing us to apply low-level formatting to hard drives will also allow us to apply this format system to flash memories, thus leaving them completely without format. This process can be carried out by USB or by means of a card reader.
Simply deleting files, or even formatting the disk, does nothing to stop a determined snoop. This program, a powerful (and free!) set of tools, promises to do something much more useful. ...... once the program has done its job, there is no turning back.
As its name suggests, this program can help you perform low-level formats. Although it is intended for hard disks, it can also work on USB flash-memory devices. Moreover, some users report that it was useful to recover pen drives that appeared to be permanently damaged. Although it is true that low-level formatting is an infrequent operation, it can be necessary to solve problems on your drives like those caused by traumatic events that make your disks unresponsive. Similarly, low-level formatting can be used to wipe the data on a disk and eliminate all chances that they can be recovered, which is crucial for preserving your privacy.
The application has a simple yet unattractive interface. In just two steps, you can have a given disk formatted. All it takes is choosing the disk and starting the low-level format. As an additional option, instead of making a complete format, you can ask the program to perform a quick wipe, which means that only existing partitions and the master boot record will be removed while no changes will be actually made on the disk surface. Moreover, you can also check the details as well as the S.M.A.R.T. data (if available) about your device. Unfortunately, once you have picked a device from the initial screen, you cannot go back to select another one, so you should quit the program and restart it instead. more
Write error occured at offset ... Page 1 of 1 [ 18 posts ] Previous topic Next topic AuthorMessageLaoziSailor Post subject: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: September 23rd, 2008, 22:40 Joined: September 10th, 2008, 16:21Posts: 11When one get the message "Write error occured at offset ..." the program doesn't stop, it keeps going. my drive is 500GB, the program has been running for almost three (3) weeks now on my laptop and I just hope it'll finish despite the error messages. I'm almost at 50% now, I do hope the low-level format is being successful.I was looking for progress logs other than the progress-bar-window. The scroll back is not responding.Anything else I can do while this process is going?ThanksTop bnice Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: September 24th, 2008, 7:51 Joined: February 11th, 2008, 18:07Posts: 166You're LLFormating and getting errors ! and so far it has taken three weeks !!Something is wrongIs the drive in a usb hard drive enclosure ?Or maybe a bad ide or sata cable.Top LaoziSailor Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: September 29th, 2008, 12:09 Joined: September 10th, 2008, 16:21Posts: 11@bnice, Thanks for the reply!Yes, it is a hard drive enclosure, it's a Western Digital MyBook.I'm about to go into the 300GB and since I've left it running for so long will keep on until done. I just hope that the log or something is kept. I cannot scroll backwards on the window to see previous addresses/dates.I'm considering this a field test that may contribute to new program requirements.Cheers!Top bnice Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: September 29th, 2008, 16:43 Joined: February 11th, 2008, 18:07Posts: 166What's the name of the program, your are using for the llf.Credit goes to a contributor, who went far beyond.For shortening the life expectancy of their hdd, while field testing this program. Top LaoziSailor Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: October 2nd, 2008, 0:15 Joined: September 10th, 2008, 16:21Posts: 11HDDGURU Low Level Format Tool ver.2.36 build 1181Top bnice Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: October 2nd, 2008, 13:49 Joined: February 11th, 2008, 18:07Posts: 166I've the tool a few times, would use again as needed. There are many low level format tools to choose from.I don't know if there is a bug with this hddguru LLF Tool that you have found. Or it's only a bad pc connection or cable.Hdd data cable is still my first choice of cause.Top LaoziSailor Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: October 18th, 2008, 17:27 Joined: September 10th, 2008, 16:21Posts: 11@bnice, tx for the comments.It became an experiment, test of my laptop and whether hddguru would break before completing, it didn't. However, there may still be a bug (after all it is not reasonable at all to have taken all this time) in LLFTOOL.EXE and hopefully this was useful.Quote:9/3/2008 8:33:22 PM * * * * * WARNING!!! * * * * * 9/3/2008 8:33:22 PM DURING THE LOW LEVEL FORMAT PROCESS 9/3/2008 8:33:22 PM ALL DATA WILL BE FULLY and IRREVERSIBLY ERASED! 9/3/2008 8:33:42 PM 9/3/2008 8:33:42 PM =================================================9/3/2008 8:33:42 PM Hard Disk Low Level Format Tool 2.36 build 1181; 9/3/2008 8:33:42 PM Low level format: WD 5000KS External 101a [500.1 Gbytes]9/3/2008 8:33:42 PM Device size: 976,773,168 sectors9/3/2008 8:33:47 PM Format Error occured at offset 17,825,7929/3/2008 8:33:51 PM Format Error occured at offset 18,350,0809/3/2008 8:33:55 PM Format Error occured at offset 18,874,368......umpteen thousand lines deleted......10/18/2008 8:17:51 AM Format Error occured at offset 500,106,788,86410/18/2008 8:17:55 AM Format Error occured at offset 500,107,313,15210/18/2008 8:17:59 AM Format Error occured at offset 500,107,837,44010/18/2008 8:17:59 AM Low-level format is done. You will have to create partitions and format this drive.Maybe we'll get a new build? -- somebody else will have to test it though Cheers!Top bnice Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: October 18th, 2008, 23:53 Joined: February 11th, 2008, 18:07Posts: 166Does MHDD see the drive with the correct capacity, or see it as less than 500gb.Top LaoziSailor Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: October 25th, 2008, 19:28 Joined: September 10th, 2008, 16:21Posts: 11bnice wrote:Does MHDD see the drive with the correct capacity, or see it as less than 500gb.Doesn't see it.I re-checked cable -- it's good.Ran the LLF again and it started giving me the same problems (Write error occurred at offset...)Lessons learned:1) My laptop is sturdy 2) I don't really need a laptop 3) HDDGURU's LLF could use some adjustments.4) Time to throw away the HD and buy a new one.Thanks for all the help.Cheers!Top bnice Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: October 26th, 2008, 12:29 Joined: February 11th, 2008, 18:07Posts: 166Take the drive out of the enclosure.Connect the drive drectly to a desktop pc motherboard, as a master device, run MHDD again.Top LaoziSailor Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: October 28th, 2008, 0:18 Joined: September 10th, 2008, 16:21Posts: 11If this wasn't so funny I would cry I had a great time (learning and being careful not to break anything) opening my enclosure.I followed the instructions in "Reboot Daily: How to open the Western Digital My Book 500GB" ... -book.html...then I noticed that the spare desktop I have doesn't support SATA , I'm not giving up!, just need to make some space in my other machine, I think I still have another cable but no place to put the drive. So it'll be another couple of days before I post an update.bnice, I do want you to know I really appreciate your help.Cheers! Top sen1976 Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: December 18th, 2015, 1:49 Joined: December 18th, 2015, 1:43Posts: 1Location: Sri LankaI also had the similar error coming , when i installed the version 4.25, it worked fine, this version could be downloaded from the following link -LLF-Low ... rmat-Tool/this works brilliantly Top Spildit Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: December 23rd, 2015, 8:28 Joined: December 19th, 2006, 8:49Posts: 10961Location: PortugalSome related topics :Testing hard disks with some confidence :Executing a "Cosmetic Fix" on drives with Bad Sectors :Assigning slow sectors to the P-List :Regards._________________1Q9xrDTzTddUXeJAFRn37aqh1Yr6buDCdw - (Bitcoin Donations)paypal.me/Spildit - (PayPal Donations)The HDD Oracle - Platform for OPEN research on Data Recovery.Top cimmay Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: April 27th, 2018, 20:13 Joined: April 27th, 2018, 20:09Posts: 1Location: SeattleA SATA cable change corrected the "Format error occured at offset ..." errors.Top Spildit Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: April 28th, 2018, 7:49 Joined: December 19th, 2006, 8:49Posts: 10961Location: Portugalcimmay wrote:A SATA cable change corrected the "Format error occured at offset ..." errors.If so your SATA cable was bad. Maybe you should still check the totality of the LBA space of your drive with MHDD/Victoria and check S.M.A.R.T. as well._________________1Q9xrDTzTddUXeJAFRn37aqh1Yr6buDCdw - (Bitcoin Donations)paypal.me/Spildit - (PayPal Donations)The HDD Oracle - Platform for OPEN research on Data Recovery.Top dsxebot Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: June 19th, 2019, 9:07 Joined: June 19th, 2019, 9:02Posts: 1Location: IndiaI got these errors:Format Error occured at offset 175,690,153,984: 21 - Device not ready (Timeout)Format Error occured at offset 175,694,348,288: 21 - Device not ready (Timeout)Format Error occured at offset 175,706,931,200: 21 - Device not ready (Timeout)Can anyone tell me what do these mean?I'm trying to perform a Low Level Format on a WD 2.5" laptop internal HDD using a "JMicron Tech SATA HDD Adaptor" using a 3.0 USB port of my Laptop!I'm using HDD LLF Tool v4.40!Top lofructosecornsyrup Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: December 11th, 2022, 14:46 Joined: December 9th, 2022, 18:28Posts: 1Location: United StatesI have a 5 TB Seagate Backup Plus external hard drive, and I am trying to wipe it using the Hard Disk Wipe Tool 2.35 build 1178. I am seeing repeated "Write Error occured at offset" issue for different locations and it has been going on for more than a day. Does anybody have any ideas why this is happening or what I can do to resolve it? Is it okay to close the software to stop the process, or should I wait till the progress bar completes?Top labtech Post subject: Re: Write error occured at offset ...Posted: December 14th, 2022, 12:39 Joined: August 18th, 2010, 17:35Posts: 3611Location: Massachusetts, USARun a SMART report on the drive.Likely it is degraded, therefore low formatting isn't a solution.If that is the case, nothing realistically will be a solution to repair the drive._________________Hard Disk Drive, SSD, USB Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in MassachusettsTop Display posts from previous: All posts1 day7 days2 weeks1 month3 months6 months1 year Sort by AuthorPost timeSubject AscendingDescending Page 1 of 1 [ 18 posts ] Main Forums home Lounge 2ff7e9595c
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