I now want to do a low-level format, that is, erase everything in the drive, treat it like a 'virgin' drive and then install my usb-based windows 10 software. When I am in command prompt, I am unable to execute the format command because the system gives me a 'drive is protected' msg. HDD Low Level Format Tool Free & Safe Download for Windows from RocketFiles.com. An application that is used in the case of constant data corruption and virus intrusion.

PAGE CONTENT:

Best Low Level Format Tool

How to Low Level Format Hard Drive with HDD Low Level Format Tool

How to Partition and High Level Format Hard Drive with a Partition Manager

Low Level Format (LLF) FAQs

Best Low Level Format Tool

Low level format of the hard disk is the most thorough way to initialize the hard disk. After the low level format of 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 a hard drive formatting? HDD Low Level Format Tool from HDDGURU receives positive feedbacks from personal/home users as well as commercial/professional users.

HDD Low Level Format Tool is an outstanding disk formatter for low level hard disk drive formatting.

Compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, Server 2003, 2008, and 2008R2
Low level format a SATA, IDE, SAS, SCSI, USB, Firewire, and SSD hard disk drive
Support most popular hard drive brands, like Seagate, Samsung, Western Digital, Toshiba, Maxtor, etc.
Work with any USB and firmware external drive enclosures as well as SD, MMC, MemoryStick and CompactFlash media.
Free for personal/home use with speed limitation (the speed limit is 180 GB per hour, or 50 MB/s)

How to Low Level Format Hard Drive with HDD Low Level Format Tool

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.

Warning: Low level format a USB drive or hard disk drive will erase the whole disk surface. After that, you can’t recover data from the hard drive any more even using professional data recovery software.

Step 1. Google 'HDD Low-Level Format', pick up an official site or CNET download site to download and install it on PC.

Step 2. Plug your HDD or USB drive into the computer and launch the low-level format tool.

Step 3. Select the desired drive and click Continue. Confirm the option by clicking Yes.

Step 4. Select 'Low-Level Format' in Tab to start the low-level formatting process.

Partition and High Level Format a Hard Drive After Low Level Format

The purpose of complete low-level formatting of a hard drive is to zero-filling it so that erased data can never be restored. So, behave cautiously while choosing this type of formatting process.

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.

Hence, take more steps after using HDD low level format tool. Use EaseUS Partition Master to help you partition and format partitions on the low level formatted hard drive simply.

Partition and Format Hard Drive with a Partition Manager

In the steps of partitioning and formatting the hard disk, it is necessary to create partitions and logical disks to format the hard disk. You can create either FAT or NTFS partition according to the physical hard disk capacity.

And don't panic if the partition file is formatted incorrectly, You can still use EaseUS partition management software to convert FAT32 to NTFS on Windows 10, 8, 7.

Partition Hard Drive/Create a Partition

Step 1: Run EaseUS Partition Master, right-click the hard drive partition you intend to format and choose 'Format'.

Step 2: In the new window, set the Partition label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3), and Cluster size for the partition to be formatted, then click 'OK'.

Step 3: Then you will see a warning window, click 'OK' in it to continue.

Step 4: Click the 'Execute Operation' button in the top-left corner to review the changes, then click 'Apply' to start formatting the partition on your hard drive.

Move/Resize Partition

As a professional disk management software, EaseUS partition management tool can help you easily move or resize partition so that your hard disk can play the maximum efficiency.

Step 1: Locate the drive/partition

Which drive/partition do you want to adjust its size? Right-click on it and choose 'Resize/Move'.

Step 2: Resize the partition

You can either shrink the selected partition or extend it.

To shrink the partition, simply use your mouse to drag one of its ends into unallocated space. Expand the 'Advanced Settings' list, where you can see the exact disk space for each partition. Once done, click 'OK'.

Fig. 1 Unallocated space before the drive.

Fig. 2 Unallocated space after the drive.

To extend the partition, make sure that there is unallocated space aside (if there isn't, follow the above steps to create some). In the same way, drag your mouse towards the unallocated space. Click 'OK'.

Fig. 3 Add unallocated space into the partition

Step 3: Apply changes

At this step, you will see the new disk partition information & diagram.

To save changes, click the 'Execute Operation' button and then 'Apply'.

Other practical key features of EaseUS Partition Master are:

Clone whole disk or a certain partition without any data loss
Merge partition to solve the low disk space issue
Wipe out your disk completely to save all confidential and sensitive data
Convert partition between logical and primary partition,
Convert MBR disk to GPT or GPT disk to MBR

Knowledge About Low Level Format (LLF)

Low-level formatting is recognized as one of the three disk formatting processes, the others are partitioning and high-level formatting.

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.

Pros

Low-level formatting is extremely helpful and significant when 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.

Cons

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 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).

To Sum Up

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: support@easeus.com.

Low Level Format FAQs

Here are a few questions related to low level format on Windows 10. If you also have any of these problems, you can troubleshoot here.

Windows Low Level Format Command