Just Formatted HD - Should I Run ChkDsk

jed · Dec 7, 2012, 03:45 PM

Hi all, just a quick question.

I am rebuilding system and my secondary boot drive (D) is a 1 TB HD. I just fully formatted it last night. I have heard this checks for bad sectors. Should I still run a Check Disk on it or has the full format taken care of all of the checking?

Thanks!

Widjaja · Dec 7, 2012, 04:12 PM

Run HDTune error scan
Or use the WD Diagnostics Tool.

Kreij · Dec 7, 2012, 04:18 PM

A full format is sufficient. If you are really concerned you could run chkdsk after install to verify the file system stuff.
I usually don't on a clean install.
I do usually defrag once all the apps and stuff are loaded though. Just habit I guess.

jed · Dec 7, 2012, 04:20 PM

Okay, I'll run ChkDsk after I install the OS. I was getting some unknown BSOD's a long time ago with it, when it was my primary boot drive, so I would just like to make sure there's no dead sectors. And if so make sure they are isolated. If a full format did check for it I'm not too concerned.

FordGT90Concept · Dec 7, 2012, 04:49 PM

Full format effectively performs chkdsk as well. There's no reason to run chkdsk after a full format. Quick format, yes. On NTFS, there's really no reason to run chkdsk unless there's problems with file integrity. NTFS keeps track of it automatically.

jed · Dec 7, 2012, 04:54 PM

Excellent, thanks for the clarification. Just out of curiosity (my first time formatting a HD), should a warning window pop up after the format if it found anything bad? Or do I need to manually check it in the manager somewhere? It reads as "Healthy, Active, 100% free"

FordGT90Concept · Dec 7, 2012, 05:28 PM

No, full format/chkdsk mark off sectors of the hard drive that are bad (won't read and/or write) so the drive simply doesn't use them.

The best way to determine the health of a drive is to look at the S.M.A.R.T. data (I believe "healthy" reflects that).

If you are seriously concerned that the drive is dead/failing, you should download the tool suite from the manufacturer (e.g. SeaTools for Seagate drives) and run the battery of tests it has. Those tools are the final-authority on the hardware integrity of a drive. If they determine the drive is bad, it will give you a code to relay to the manufacturer to open up an RMA.

jed · Dec 7, 2012, 05:40 PM

Great info, thanks a lot! I'm not too concerned really, but I may run those just to double check since it'll be my only HDD - no backup.

Dec 7, 2012, 03:45 PM	#1
jed Join Date: May 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 226 (0.31/day) Thanks: 125 Thanked 42 Times in 29 Posts System Specs	Just Formatted HD - Should I Run ChkDsk Hi all, just a quick question. I am rebuilding system and my secondary boot drive (D) is a 1 TB HD. I just fully formatted it last night. I have heard this checks for bad sectors. Should I still run a Check Disk on it or has the full format taken care of all of the checking? Thanks!

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Dec 7, 2012, 04:18 PM	#3
Kreij Hardcore Monkey Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheeseland (Wisconsin, USA) Posts: 12,114 (5.27/day) Thanks: 591 Thanked 5,492 Times in 2,936 Posts System Specs	A full format is sufficient. If you are really concerned you could run chkdsk after install to verify the file system stuff. I usually don't on a clean install. I do usually defrag once all the apps and stuff are loaded though. Just habit I guess. __________________ Cloud (noun, singular): A dynamic arrangement of multiple potential single points of failure, with a user at one end and their data at the other. Get more tech news on a wide variety of topics at NextPowerUp

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Dec 7, 2012, 04:12 PM	#2
Widjaja Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wangas, New Zealand Posts: 4,023 (1.85/day) Thanks: 241 Thanked 617 Times in 534 Posts System Specs	Run HDTune error scan Or use the WD Diagnostics Tool.

Dec 7, 2012, 04:20 PM	#4
jed Join Date: May 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 226 (0.31/day) Thanks: 125 Thanked 42 Times in 29 Posts System Specs	Okay, I'll run ChkDsk after I install the OS. I was getting some unknown BSOD's a long time ago with it, when it was my primary boot drive, so I would just like to make sure there's no dead sectors. And if so make sure they are isolated. If a full format did check for it I'm not too concerned.

Dec 7, 2012, 04:49 PM	#5
FordGT90Concept "I go fast!1!11!1!" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: IA, USA Posts: 10,576 (6.28/day) Thanks: 1,755 Thanked 2,596 Times in 1,960 Posts System Specs	Full format effectively performs chkdsk as well. There's no reason to run chkdsk after a full format. Quick format, yes. On NTFS, there's really no reason to run chkdsk unless there's problems with file integrity. NTFS keeps track of it automatically. __________________ Golden Rule of Programming: Never assume. try { SteamDownload(); } catch (Steamception ex) { RageQuit(); }

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Dec 7, 2012, 04:54 PM	#6
jed Join Date: May 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 226 (0.31/day) Thanks: 125 Thanked 42 Times in 29 Posts System Specs	Excellent, thanks for the clarification. Just out of curiosity (my first time formatting a HD), should a warning window pop up after the format if it found anything bad? Or do I need to manually check it in the manager somewhere? It reads as "Healthy, Active, 100% free"

Dec 7, 2012, 05:28 PM	#7
FordGT90Concept "I go fast!1!11!1!" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: IA, USA Posts: 10,576 (6.28/day) Thanks: 1,755 Thanked 2,596 Times in 1,960 Posts System Specs	No, full format/chkdsk mark off sectors of the hard drive that are bad (won't read and/or write) so the drive simply doesn't use them. The best way to determine the health of a drive is to look at the S.M.A.R.T. data (I believe "healthy" reflects that). If you are seriously concerned that the drive is dead/failing, you should download the tool suite from the manufacturer (e.g. SeaTools for Seagate drives) and run the battery of tests it has. Those tools are the final-authority on the hardware integrity of a drive. If they determine the drive is bad, it will give you a code to relay to the manufacturer to open up an RMA. __________________ Golden Rule of Programming: Never assume. try { SteamDownload(); } catch (Steamception ex) { RageQuit(); }

Dec 7, 2012, 05:40 PM	#8
jed Join Date: May 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 226 (0.31/day) Thanks: 125 Thanked 42 Times in 29 Posts System Specs	Great info, thanks a lot! I'm not too concerned really, but I may run those just to double check since it'll be my only HDD - no backup.

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