Power Computing PowerBase Low-Profile, User Manual

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Chapter 4: Using Hard Disk ToolKit•PE 141
Should I use Format or Auto Initialize?
Auto Initialize is the easiest and most automated way to prepare your
SCSI and IDE disk devices. Auto Initialize will:
• erase any existing data on the selected device
• install the driver
• write a partition map
• create a new volume of the maximum possible size
Use Format to access Hard Disk ToolKit• PE ’s custom, low-level format-
ting options. Format will clear all existing data from the selected device.
You can subsequently install the driver, write a partition map, and create
volumes according to your needs.
Auto Initializing a Disk Device
Auto Initialize prepares a disk device for use. Most disk devices have
already been initialized at the factory, but if your disk device has not been
auto initialized with HDT•
PE , you may not get the best performance from
it. Typically, you would auto initialize a disk to completely clean it of
existing data.
The Device Data files, which reside in the same folder as the Hard Disk
ToolKit•
PE application, contains detailed information on the optimal
parameters for hundreds of different disk devices. The HDT• PE applica-
tion automatically references the Device Data files as it auto initializes
your disk device to ensure that it reaches its peak performance.
Auto Initialize follows a set of optimal default values so that novice users
can format and create volumes on their SCSI and IDE disk devices as
safely and easily as possible.
Auto Initialize will:
• clear any existing data on the selected device, then verify disk integ-
rity
• install the driver
• write a partition map
• create a new volume of the maximum size possible and mount it to
the Desktop
NOTE
2B. HDT 2.0 Primer Usage Page 141 Friday, June 6, 1997 3:06 PM