HDD Low Level Format Tool, Which Is the Best [Full Comparison]
HDDs are used in enterprise storage arrays in data centers, consumer electronics, mobile devices, desktop computers, etc. Many users seek the help of HDD low-level format tools for managing their devices. Let us know all about this.
We'll go through the HDD low-level format tool in detail, starting with its safety concerns. Then, we'll go through the top tools and compare them based on different features. We'll also see Qiling Partition Master, the best alternative.
Is HDD Low Level Format Safe
What is HDD? It is one of the popular non-volatile options regarding storage capacity. Before knowing deeply about the HDD low-level format tool, it is necessary to know the HDD low-level formatting. We'll go through the quick definition of low-level format, key functions, and the detailed steps to perform this format.
Definition of low-level format:
What is the low-level format? Low-level formatting or physical formatting is the process of creating a hard drive by making the actual sectors, control structures, cylinders, tracks, etc. The HDD low-level formatting ensures erasing of all data from the hard drive. The low-level format is executed in two levels, i.e., formatting the hard drive and packing up the storage space with zero value.
The low-level format eliminates the potential set of errors due to the movement of tracks on the platers. It successfully rewrites the tracks in a fresh position in the direction of the stepper motor movement. Hence, it is easy to go for the HDD low-level format tools in the event of giving a hard disk to someone or discarding an old system with sensitive data. The cases of data integrity or malware removal without eliminating the boot sector call for low-level formatting.
Functions of low-level format:
Some of the key functions of the low-level format are:
- It successfully resets the hard drive to its factory settings.
- It helps eliminate virus files stored in the specific disk sector.
- It allows partition formatting and reinstalling the operating system easily.
- It performs high-intensity magnetic on the magnetic recording tracks of the disk sector.
After going through the definition and functions of low-level format, you may look for the top HDD low-level format tools. However, it is necessary to know that low-level formatting should be performed with extreme caution. Any issues with the wrong low-level HDD formatting cause irrecoverable destruction of data or devices.
By the way, if you are interested in the difference between low-level format and high-level format, click the link below to learn more.
High-Level Format VS Low-Level Format, What's the Difference and How to Use [Full Guide]
Which formatting method should you choose? High-level formatting or low-level formatting? This page will explain clearly what high-level formatting is and what low-level formatting is.
HDD Low Level Format Tool - Top Three Checklist
After having a detailed look at the HDD low-level formatting safety, you may look for the top HDD low-level format tools. Before jumping to the same tools, it is necessary to know the key reasons for the need for HDD low-level formatting. These are:
- Before giving away your hard disk to someone else.
- Discarding an old system having crucial data.
- Ideal for handling suspected issues with data integrity.
- Eliminate malware from the system without damaging the boot sector.
It is recommended to go for these tools but not before taking a dedicated backup of the HDD. Hence, it is advised to go ahead with the HDD low-level format tools only after taking a backup of the HDD on any external drive. You will not be able to restore any drive data after HDD low-level formatting.
Let us have a detailed look at the top three HDD low-level format tools:
1. HDD LLF by HDDGURU
It is our first choice in the best HDD low-level format tools. It securely follows the zero-filling hard drive process and includes re-initializing the disk to factory settings. Furthermore, it clears all the partitions and erases all stored data completely and irreversibly.
2. DISKPART
It is the built-in command line in the Windows system. It can successfully execute low-level formatting. Using Diskpart commands executes low-level formatting without installing a third-party tool. Dispart low-level format is popular among experienced users.
3. Lowvel
The leading HDD low-level format tool successfully erases drive data permanently. It overwrites the data stored in the system. Lowvel helps users get rid of the numerous drive issues with zero-filling.
After going through the three HDD low-level format tools, let us quickly compare these three based on different features. So, there is a table to help you distinguish these tools.
Which Is the Best Low-Level Format Tool
You can see clearly from the table that HDD LLF by HDDGURU is a nice choice. You can also choose other tools based on your needs and device versions.
| Features | HDD LLF by HDDGURU | DISKPART | Lowvel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Starts at 3.30USD | Free | Free |
| Latest Version | 4.40 | 5.1.3553 | 156 |
| Compatibility | Windows XP and above | Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 | Windows XP to Windows 10 |
| Pros | Erases data completely and irreversibly | Built-in command line tool | Easy-to-use |
| Cons | Partitions are required in HDD before using it | lacks advanced formatting features | Lacks advanced formatting features |
It is easy to select a dedicated HDD low-level format tool based on the system's needs. However, it is essential to note that there is no need to consistently go for low-level formatting as it can reduce the device's lifespan. In addition, devices can't be put in use before the high-level format of the devices after the low-level format.
Alternative to HDD Low-Level Format Tool - Qiling Partition Master
It is easy to go through the different HDD low-level format tools and learn the detailed comparison between these three. Users looking for the best alternative to these tools can go for the Qiling Partition Master Free. Let us know more about this tool in detail.
As a good alternative to a low-level format tool, Qiling Partition Master helps merge, format/wipe partitions, and quickly partition the new disk. Not only this, it can effectively duplicate or clone partitions from one hard disk or partition to another without any data loss. Now, follow the guide below to format.
Step 1. Right-click the hard drive partition and choose the "Format" option.
Step 2. In the new window, set the Partition label, File system, and Cluster size for the partition, then click "Proceed".
Step 3. You can see a warning window, click "Yes" to start formatting the hard drive partition.
Features of Qiling Partition Master:
- It is an all-in-one free partition manager for specific Windows users to convert MBR to GPT.
- It adjusts disk space, sets up a hard drive on Windows, and merges partitions.
- It can create partitions on USB drive and merge partitions on SSD.
- It is an all-in-one disk performance optimizer for different Windows users to apply to clean up hard drives, USBs, external hard drives, etc.
- It supports different file systems like exFAT, ReFS, FAT 12/16/32, EXT2/3/4, NTFS, etc.
- It supports Windows XP/ Vista/ 7/ 8/ 8.1/ 10/ 11.
Hence, users looking for an effective and easy alternative can go ahead with the Qiling Partition Master for high formatting of different devices. It can check and manage bad sectors effectively. Thus, high-level formatting is the logical formatting efficiently managed by the Qiling Partition Master.
Conclusion
Hope everything is clear about the HDD low-level format tools after going through this article. It is easy to go through the detailed definition of low-level formatting followed by its security efficiency. Readers can go through the top three HDD low-level format tools: HDD LLF By HDDGURU, Diskpart, Lowvel, etc.
A strict comparison between these three popular tools ensures that readers can select one based on their system needs. Readers looking for a quick alternative to the HDD low-level format tools can go for the Qiling Partition Master, offering detailed high-level formatting.
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FAQ About HDD Low-Level Format
After learning all about the different HDD low-level format tools and selecting one based on the detailed comparison, you may have some questions. First, let us go through the top and frequently asked questions related to the same:
1. Does low-level format erase all data?
Yes, the low-level format erases all data on the HDD. It is performed against the disk sectors, skips the file system layer, and works directly with the underlying storage. In addition, the low-level format makes data unrecoverable on HDD.
2. Can low-level format fix a hard drive?
The low-level format quickly replaces the readable and regular data with zeroes. Hence, the information from the drive is prevented from recovery by the different recovery tools. So while the HDD low-level format can erase all drive data, it makes the data unrecoverable, but it can't fix bad sectors of the hard drive.
3. What is the purpose of low-level formatting?
The key purposes of low-level formatting are:
- It performs high-intensity magnetic on the magnetic recording tracks of the disk sector.
- It helps eliminate virus files stored in the specific disk sector.
- It allows partition formatting and reinstalling the operating system easily.
- It successfully resets the hard drive to its factory settings.
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