With the exception of CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs (collectively called "optical media"), formatting is not a special action, and is fundamentally the same as any other disk operation. Formatting a storage device (whether it's a hard drive (HDD), solid state disk (SSD), or flash drive) just involves regular old reads and writes to the disk.
The only matters of concern are:
- Are you performing a quick format or a full format? A quick format just overwrites the core filesystem data structures with a new filesystem, and usually only involves a few megabytes of writes (compared to many gigabytes or terabytes of total disk space). A full format only writes a small amount of data, but reads from every part of the disk to make sure the disk is OK.
- Usually after you format a disk, if it's your primary storage, you're going to install an operating system on it. This usually causes between 2 and 25 GB of disk writes at first, plus another several gigabytes to install programs and updates.
All this writing of new data (which will vary in quantity depending on what type of format you performed and what you're going to do after you format it) can cause wear on SSDs, and to a lesser degree, the mechanical parts of HDDs. The amount of wear is proportional to the amount of data that is being read/written, with SSDs largely unaffected by reads, but HDDs being affected roughly the same by reads and writes.
I'm not going to delve into the topic of disk endurance and how certain quantities and frequencies of reads and writes affect the endurance (wear level) of different types of disks. This is a very complex topic that is completely independent from the subject of disk formatting.
Just know that the operation of reinstalling Windows on a hard disk is basically doing the same thing to your disk as copying several gigabytes of movies or pictures or music. Just the act of using a computer involves very frequent disk reads and writes.
The only difference is that formatting a disk and then using it often incurs a fairly large amount of reads and writes compared to what a typical user might do in a day.
Analogy: if you normally drive 8 km to work every day in your car, and then take a holiday trip of 200 km, this is fundamentally the same action -- you're just driving further. Formatting causes more wear on your disk, just like driving further causes more wear on your car.
If you want to know how reading and writing data impacts the endurance of your particular type of disk, you can either ask a new question, or search for existing questions (or use Google) to find this information.
FAQs
The answer: One pass is enough.
Does formatting a hard drive twice make it unrecoverable? ›
Does formatting a hard drive twice make it unrecoverable? NO. Formatting does not erase data on the disk, which only makes file recovery much more difficult. If you want the data to be unrecoverable, you need to erase the data on the hard drive.
Does formatting a hard drive repeatedly harm? ›
You can repeatedly format a hard drive without impacting its lifespan or long-term performance. You could choose a quick format to change the file system, then perform a full format for a fresh start.
How many times should you erase hard drive? ›
To summarize, securely overwriting hard disk drives involves: One overwriting pass for most HDD erasure. Remember to weigh data sensitivity against the costs of a higher level of security and the time you want to spend on each processed asset.
Does formatting reduce the life of hard drive? ›
However, it's important to remember that any data that was stored on the drive will also be erased. That's why it's critical to always back up your data before formatting. Formatting a hard drive frequently can also have consequences, such as permanent data loss and decreasing the disk's lifespan.
Does formatting a HDD erase everything? ›
Otherwise, formatting a hard drive using the quick format option (or an earlier version of Windows) will not actually erase all of its stored data. When you choose to format a hard drive, you are essentially only removing the pointers to the data as the partition table is either cleared or rebuilt.
Is it possible to recover data after formatting a hard drive? ›
Recovering overwritten data after a drive has been formatted is highly unlikely. Once data has been overwritten, the previous information is replaced on the storage medium, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to retrieve.
How to completely format a hard drive so it cannot be recovered? ›
Use Disk Management to wipe a hard drive
- Connect your external drive to your PC via a USB port. Then, press the Windows key + X and select Disk Management.
- Right-click the drive you'd like to wipe and select Format. Choose a new file system.
There is no specific number for rewriting a hard drive. One can rewrite data on an external hard drive many times as many he wants. If you do it 7 times, it's likely obliterated.
Can you format a drive too much? ›
Every hard drive has a certain limitation on the number of times data can be written on it. Generally that number is quite large. And simply formatting the hard drive hard 1000 times will NOT damage your hard drive. But I doubt as to why you might want to format it so many times.
It depends on your usage. If you're a heavy user, consider reformatting every year or so. For lighter usage, every two to three years might suffice. Think of it like changing the oil in your car—it keeps things running smoothly.
Can you completely wipe a hard drive? ›
Yes, it is possible to completely wipe a hard drive. Your computer comes with tools to help you wipe its hard drive. But it's not always easy to do, and if your computer has an SSD hard drive, you'll need to use encryption or perform a full format to reliably wipe it completely.
How do I permanently delete data from my hard drive? ›
Wiping your hard drive
- Select Settings (the gear icon on the Start menu)
- Select Update & security, then Recovery.
- Choose Remove everything, then Remove files and clean the drive.
- Then click Next, Reset, and Continue.
The best ways to destroy or dispose of an old hard drive
- Shredding. The most effective way to destroy a hard drive is to shred it. ...
- Degaussing. ...
- Wiping the data. ...
- Using a hammer. ...
- Using a drill. ...
- Using a magnet. ...
- Scratching the platter. ...
- Sensitive information is protected.
The number of write cycles for a HDD is infinite for the platters (the actual magnetic discs). The read/write process is done by magnetic head 'floating' a hair's breadth above the platter surface. Nothing, in a properly functioning HDD, ever touches the platters, so there is no wear.
How many times can you rewrite a disk? ›
Typically, a CD or DVD can be rewritten between 1,000 and 100,000 times, although some discs may be able to withstand even more rewriting. However, as the disc gets older, the quality of the disc will degrade and the number of rewritable times will decrease.
How do I format a hard drive to reuse it? ›
Use Disk Management to wipe a hard drive
- Connect your external drive to your PC via a USB port. Then, press the Windows key + X and select Disk Management.
- Right-click the drive you'd like to wipe and select Format. Choose a new file system.
Maintaining Hard Disks
Primary partition You can create up to four primary partitions on a basic disk. Each hard disk must have at least one primary partition where you can create a logical volume. You can set only one partition as an active partition.
