Formating of Hard Disk

As long as you are using the /U switch when you format, the only issue is time it takes to recover.

Formatting a drive places no extra stress on the drive.

One big advantage, is that you are always running with a fairly clean install of Windows.

For many viruses, you can use removal tools from either Symantec, or McAfee that will remove the virus without disrupting your systems.

Now, I suggest that you concentrate on virus prevention.
You need to track down who, how, and why you get hit often.
Educate your users about updating their anti-virus software, and how to identify suspect e-mails.

Consider installing firewalls if you do not allready have them.

I have had 3 viruses get to my PC, and McAfee caught each of them before they inflicted any damage.

Chas

The disadvantages is that is that if before to make a disk format you backup your file without cleaning from viruses, you are at high risk of be infected again. That's mean the disk formatt was for nothing. Other disadvantages is that when formatting a disk always forget to save something before and sometime something important. So again virus is better to do what TheChas said. Get some good antivirus software, but most important try to educate the poeple at your organization, install some group policy, etc.

If you are formatting your hard drive you may also want to fdisk the master boot record.

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