Formatting ssd for windows 7 install how to#
Formatting ssd for windows 7 install full#

Formatting ssd for windows 7 install full#

A modern SSD can easily survive several hundred gigabytes of data written per day for years before failure, but it is still best to avoid writing to it unnecessarily - which is why you should not use the full format option on SSDs.Interface used for connecting storage devices Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller Interface Specification One of the downsides of solid-state storage is that each cell can only be written to a certain number of times before it becomes unusable. Hard drives stored those 1s and 0s on a magnetic platter, but solid-state drives store them in вЂњcellsвЂќ that are either charged or discharged to represent a 0 or 1, respectively. Modern solid-state drives still store data as 1s and 0s, but the underlying physical mechanisms are extremely different. RELATED: What is Binary, and Why Do Computers Use It? It isnвЂ™t вЂt perfect, and a diligent forensics team can probably restore some of the data, but it is sufficient to keep your information safe from the average person who might pick up your discarded hard drive. Full Format actually writes 0s over every possible location on the hard drive, erasing all of the content. Regular hard drives still need that treatment.

Formatting ssd for windows 7 install how to#

RELATED: How to Check if TRIM Is Enabled for Your SSD (and Enable It if It Isn't) Why You ShouldnвЂ™t Use Full FormatДЄ long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away - a whopping ten years ago - you actually needed to use the full format option to ensure that all of your data was erased from your hard drive. This does not apply to internal SSDs, where TRIM will handle removing the data. The Full Format will ensure your deleted data is not recoverable.

You will want to use Full Format to wipe external SSDs before disposing of or getting rid of them. Note: External USB SSDs do not support TRIM. If you want to clear the data, a quick format is perfectly adequate. It is unnecessary because Windows will automatically clear deleted files from the SSD if TRIM is enabled, and it reduces the usable lifespan of your SSD. Using Format to Wipe DataДonвЂ™t use the вЂњFull FormatвЂќ option for SSDs. It is lightweight, widely supported, and doesnвЂ™t have any practical file or volume size restrictions to worry about. If you donвЂ™t have any specific use in mind, you should probably pick exFAT. RELATED: What's the Difference Between FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS? FAT32 and exFAT are both supported by every modern operating system and game console, though FAT32 cannot handle files larger than four gigabytes. Other formats are more universally supported and are probably better choices if you plan on using the external SSD with a lot of different devices. MacOS can also read from an NTFS drive, but doesnвЂ™t natively support writing to them, though you can if youвЂ™re willing to do some work. NTFS is a reasonable choice if you only ever plan on using the external drive with Windows or Linux. If youвЂ™re formatting an external SSD, you have more file system options. RELATED: Why Your New Hard Drive Isn't Showing Up in Windows (and How to Fix It) File System for an External SSD Fortunately, initializing a drive is pretty easy. Note: If the drive is new, it might not show up in вЂњThis PC.вЂќ That is most likely because some drives must first be initialized before Windows will allow you to use them.

NTFS - or New Technology File System - has been the standard file system used by Windows since Windows 3.1. YouвЂ™ll definitely want to pick NTFS as your file system if youвЂ™re formatting an internal drive that will only be used on Windows 10.