Unconditional Format - Epson Apex User Manual

You see a menu of formatting and checking options:
HARD DISK FORMAT MENU
1 - Conditional format (Normal)

2 - Unconditional format

3 - Destructive surface analysis
4 - Non-destructive surface analysis
0 - Exit
Enter selection number:
The first two options format a hard disk. Normally, you use
option 1, Conditional format (Normal). This option automati-
cally locates any bad tracks that are flagged by the manufacturer
and marks them so that they cannot be used. Option 2, Uncon-
ditional format, requires you to enter the list of bad tracks.
The other two options test a hard disk for problems. Use option
3, Destructive surface analysis, to test the entire disk and update
the bad track table. Because this option writes data to the disk
as well as reads it, it destroys all data on tracks that produce
errors. To check for unflagged bad tracks without destroying
data, use option 4, Non-destructive surface analysis.
Many hard disk drives are supplied with a list of bad tracks.
These drives may also have the bad track list printed on a
sticker attached to the disk, but do not have the bad tracks
flagged on the disk. Other hard disks are supplied with the bad
tracks already flagged. The hard disk that comes with the
Apex Plus 20 has all its bad tracks flagged at the factory.
In all cases, run Non-destructive surface analysis before
formatting the hard disk drive; this routine finds all bad
tracks that are not flagged.
If the analysis shows that all tracks listed as bad are already
flagged, you can then use the Conditional format (Normal)
option to format the disk. If the analysis matches the list of bad
tracks, but they are not flagged, run the Destructive surface
analysis (to flag the tracks) before formatting the disk. If the list
Preparing a Hard Disk For Use B-3