Technically, your previous data is still there on the HDD until it is overwritten, but it can no longer be accessed because the Metadata files have been rewritten. The Metadata files are instructed that all the space in the hard drive is now available for use.
Quick Format: When you format a hard drive using Quick Format, your OS essentially rewrites the information in the File System Metadata files. In Windows, you can choose to either perform a Quick Format or a Full Format: These files are called File System Metadata files, and they also contain information about how much free space there is on the HDD, as well as other unique attributes about the partition they’re concerned with. Now, each File System has a set of associated files that contain the relevant information about all the files stored on the hard drive. Each one has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Basically, there are various file systems, such as NTFS, FAT, and exFAT that determine how data is stored and accessed in a hard drive or partition. When formatting an HDD, Windows lets you choose which File System you want the drive to use. What Does Formatting of a Hard Drive Mean?
This article will show you how to do just that. In a nutshell, that involves first creating a backup of your data, then proceeding with formatting. Therefore, it is useful to know how you can format a disk without losing data. But, formatting completely removes all the data on your hard drive. Mainly, if you want to do a clean installation of Windows.
Reading Time: 6 minutesFormatting your HDD is sometimes absolutely necessary.