Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!unisoft!seer!ariel
From: ariel@seer.UUCP (Catherine Hampton)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Low-level format without distroying data?
Summary: Definitely!  I know of 3 programs that will do it.
Message-ID: <646@seer.UUCP>
Date: 13 Oct 90 22:48:52 GMT
References: <5739@mace.cc.purdue.edu>
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Distribution: usa
Organization: Brad Lanam  Alamo, CA
Lines: 28

In article <5739@mace.cc.purdue.edu> dve@mace.cc.purdue.edu writes:
>
>Is it possible to low-level format a harddrive
>without lossing data? I seem to have heard that
>it's possible. How would one do it if so?

Three programs that will low-level most hard disks without destroying
data are:

		Spinrite, by Gibson Research
 		Optune, by Gazelle Systems
		The Norton Utilities, Release 5.0

Of these three, I use and recommend Optune because it also has a fine, 
extremely fast disk defragger (defrags and packs my 100 meg drive in
under four minutes.  Takes Norton's SD about fifty to do the same thing.)
Optune and Spinrite also both have intensive bit-pattern testing to flush
out bad spots on your hard disk long before CHKDKS would have caught
them.

If you're interested, e-mail me and I can provide addresses and phone
numbers for any or all of these companies.

Cathy
_________________________________________________________________
Catherine A. Hampton                  BITNET: hampton@reed.BITNET
CIS: 71601,3130                      Fidonet: Cathy H. @ 1:125/32
GEnie: C.HAMPTON3     Internet: hampton@reed.EDU / ariel@seer.COM