Appendix B: Using the ARC Utility 59

Formatting and Verifying Disk Drives

You can use the disk utilities to low-level format or verify your disk drives. (New disk drives are low-level formatted at the factory and do not need to be low-level formatted again.)

!Caution: Before you format a disk drive, back up all data. Formatting destroys all data on a disk drive.

To use the disk utilities:

1Turn on your computer and press Ctrl+A when prompted to access the ARC utility.

2From the ARC utility menu, select Disk Utilities.

3Select the desired disk, then press Enter. You are offered the following options:

Format Disk—Simulates a low-level format of the disk drive by writing zeros to the entire disk. SATA drives are low-level formatted at the factory and do not need to be low-level formatted again.

!Caution: Formatting destroys all data on the disk. Be sure to back up your data before performing this operation.

Verify Disk Media—Scans the media of a disk drive for defects.

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Adaptec ATA II 1420SA, ATA II 1220SA, ATA II 1430SA manual Formatting and Verifying Disk Drives