XP format

Ok, here's an interesting one:
I backup my drive, and boot my XP pro cd.
I choose to install on c:\, and format the partition with NTFS.  (Not quick format, formerly a FAT32 partition)
It takes forever. 120gb of data doesn't write quick on a 2.5" disk.
pretty normal so far.
But I don't want to install XP pro, and so eject the disk at 98% to prevent the file copy stage from starting.
At 100% it gives me a warning saying the disk wasn't formatted, and may have a hardware fault.
Hmmm, ok... I'm still expecting the drive to be pretty much zeroed...
I reboot with an XP home cd in the drive, but miss hitting the key to select the boot device.
Windows boot screen comes up.  Full old system in all its FAT32 glory is still intact.

Interesting...
Sooo, long format on the XP boot disc doesn't zero the data huh?  Then what did it do for the last fifty minutes? A disk surface scan without zeroing? Ejecting the XP cd obviously stopped the FATs being overwritten, and the partition ID from being changed, but even if these went ahead, the erase would have been no more secure than a quick format.

In short, don't use an XP boot cd to zero a disk. It doesn't work.

What does anon think?

ITT: you should make a DOS boot disc, or run a Linux live CD and format drive that way. the latter of the two is a little more intensive and you will need a copy of NTFS com file on cd.

yeah, i got me some dos, lunix, bsd and solaris live cds... so i'm covered.  just thought id let teh crowd know what doesn't work for a mid-level security erase.  also, note to all: always do an unerase when you get second hand hardware... you'll probably find something!

you need to select 'unformat hard drive' then after it is done, save the data you need thenm select 'reformat hard drive'

>>4
You are a fucking moron