Is it bad to turn off hard drive while formatting??

[doje1999]

Hi, I was wondering if its bad to turn off hard drive while you are formatting. I'm dead tired right now and can't stay up for this, lol. Or should I just leave it on?

 

[jsc]

Yes, very bad. Just let the system run.

 

[r_manic]

You can always sleep on it

 

[mikrev007]

No, it is not bad. Nothing will happen, other than you need to start over.

 

[r_manic]

Disagree. That's using a hard disk (adding to its wear and tear) for nothing.

 

[mikrev007]

Oh? So because you add 2 hours of extra wear and tear (you are not even stressing the drive when doing this procedure) to the drives life is bad? Hardly.

Also keep in mind: the second you turn on your computer, the harddrive will begin to spin and keep spinning until you turn off your computer.

 

[mikrev007]

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[moomooman]

Its not best practice to turn off a hard disk while its operating. That said its not likely to kill the drive, but I would let it run to completion.

 

[mikrev007]

Turning a harddrive off (suddenly, which i don't even think is the case here) can mess up a file system. But in this case there isn't even a file system to mess up.

And there is absolutely no harm done to a modern harddrive that has its power cut off suddenly.

 

[doje1999]

Turning a harddrive off (suddenly, which i don't even think is the case here) can mess up a file system. But in this case there isn't even a file system to mess up.

And there is absolutely no harm done to a modern harddrive that has its power cut off suddenly.

Thanks for the reply. Anyways I turned it off...That first reply scared me, lol. But it seems generally that it'll be ok, right? I just need to start the process again. Its a brand new western digital caviar black so there's no data on it.

 

[cjl]

It should be fine, though I don't know why you didn't just leave it on all night.

 

[rockinthepe]

related topic, can canceling a format on a second hard drive cause all identifying information on the hard drive to be wiped? HDD recognized as existing in bios, but according to bios has 0 MB and no manufacturer.