How Long to Format a 1.5TB Ext USB Drive ?

Buckster · 21 Nov 2009 at 11:35

I thought I'd do the right thing and when going from FAT32 (default on the drive) to NTFS - I'd do a full format instead of a quick one ....

up to about 11 hrs now and about 75% complete

is that right for a USB2 5400rpm ext drive

I'm thinking probably

will be doing "quick" format next time !!

AbsenceJam · 21 Nov 2009 at 11:46

Yeah that's normal, USB2 is max 30MB/s. A full format just adds chkdsk, so pretty pointless as chkdsk is rubbish.

juno_first · 21 Nov 2009 at 13:47

Maybe we should be asking 'when should you slow format a drive?'.
Waiting hours for a format sounds ridiculous unless it really needs doing.
It be quicker take the drive out the caddy & format from a mobo sata cable.

Buckster · 21 Nov 2009 at 15:14

thanks for the replies

won't be doing that again ...

finally just finished, 15 hrs it took !