What is the Difference Between a Quick Format and a Regular One?

When you install Windows XP, Vista or the new Windows 7 it will ask you if you want to “Quick format” or just format your hard drive. Read on to find out the difference.

Quick Format

When you choose to format the drive using the Quick format of NTFS on Windows it removes the table that points to all the files on that partition. It then creates a new table to start fresh.

This way all the files are still on the hard disk its just that windows cannot see them. (This is how some file recovery software works by locating the file data without the table that points to it)

“Normal” Format

The “Full” or normal format deletes the table that points to the files but also checks the whole hard disk for errors. This is why the quick option is so much quicker

Using the Normal format option will still allow for file recovery as the files are still there (Just like the quick option)

If you wish to get rid of all files please search for “Hard Drive Zeroing” on Google

The Normal format option is the same as running:

chkdsk /r

From a functional Windows installation

If you installed Windows XP on a partition that was formatted by using the Quick format option, you can also check your disk by using the command after the installation of Windows XP is completed.