Nr: TN-9612-003 Model: N/A Product: MAXLLF.EXE Version: 1.1
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Subject: Using Maxtor's Low Level Format (MAXLLF.EXE) Utility
Summary: Step by step procedure to perform the a Low Level Format on a Maxtor hard drive.
Description: The MAXLLF.EXE program is designed and intended to be used only with Maxtor
IDE/AT hard drives. This program will Low Level format the hard drive and restore
the media to it's original factory format.
WARNING:
All data on the drive will be lost when using this utility. Back up the data on the hard drive
before running this utility. Maxtor recommends removing any other hard drives from the system
before running this utility.
NOTICE:
The MAXLLF.EXE program is provided as is without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or
implied. The entire risk as to the quality and performance of the program is with the user. In
no event will MAXTOR CORPORATION be liable to you for any damages, including any loss of profit
or savings, arising out of the use or inability to use this software. Maxtor Corporation makes
no representations or warranties with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims
any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.
Purpose:
The Low Level Format utility is designed to return the surface of the media to manufacturing
specifications and format the hard drive as it was shipped from the factory.
Maxtor's Low Level Format Utility can be obtained from the following:
* Maxtor Utilities diskette (MUD)
* Maxtor's World Wide Web site. Direct address to the Web page containing the Maxtor Low
Level program file location is: http://www.maxtor.com:80/bbs-main.html
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Downloading from Maxtor's BBS or World Wide Web Site:
Refer to the system's modem settings (and associated software) for proper connection procedures.
Upon successful modem connection, download the file named "LLFUTIL.EXE".
Extracting LLFUTIL.EXE
This file is compressed, and self extracting. Prior to extraction, Maxtor recommends that users
copy LLFUTIL.EXE to a blank, DOS (5.0 or higher) or Windows 95, formatted 3.5" floppy diskette.
* Insert the floppy disk containing LLFUTIL.EXE in the appropriate floppy drive and
establish operations at that drive's DOS prompt.
* At the command prompt, type "LLFUTIL" and press the [Enter] key. At this point, two files
will be extracted to the floppy disk:
1. MAXLLF.EXE - Maxtor's Low Level Format Utility
2. MAXLLF.TXT - Text file giving procedures to run MAXLLF.EXE
Note: MAXLLF.TXT contains this document.
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Low Level Formatting a Maxtor Hard Drive:
1. Clean Boot the system to the "A:\>" prompt with a bootable DOS or Windows 95 system diskette.
Note: a Clean Boot is defined as booting to a system diskette that loads no software drivers
into memory.
2. Insert the Maxtor Utility Diskette or the diskette containing the downloaded files in the
appropriate Floppy Disk Drive and establish operations at that drive's DOS prompt.
3. If using the Maxtor Utilities Diskette, type "cd lowlevel" and press the [Enter] key. The DOS
prompt will change to {drive}:\lowlevel>.
Note: Skip step 3 if using the extracted files downloaded from Maxtor's BBS or World Wide Web
Site.
4. Type "MAXLLF" and press the [Enter] key. This will execute the low level format program and
bring up the Maxtor Disclaimer Screen.
5. To Accept the conditions of the Maxtor Disclaimer, type "Y" to continue or press any other key
to exit the utility.
Options Menu:
If "Y" was chosen to continue, the following Options Menu will be displayed. The Menu is
comprised of the following Windows:
*************************************
* Select Device *
* Low Level Format Current Device *
* EXIT *
*************************************
(Main Options Window)
(Red MESSAGE WINDOW will appear here)
*************************************************************************************************
* *
* Current Device: 0 *
* Model #: *
* Serial #: *
* Firmware #: *
* *
* CYL: HDS: SPT: *
* MAXLBA: *
* *
*************************************************************************************************
(Current Device Window)
*************************************************************************************************
* *
* HELP WINDOW: *
* Use the arrow keys to select the option you want, the press the enter *
* or the return key. *
* *
*************************************************************************************************
(HELP WINDOW)
Note: A red MESSAGE WINDOW will appear during portions of the utility's execution. The Message
Window prompts the user to press a specific key before continuing with the next process.
The red MESSAGE WINDOW, will appear between the Main Options and the Current Device
Windows.
1. Highlight "Select Device" and press the [Enter] key. The following message will appear in the
red MESSAGE WINDOW:
Which Device would you like to select? (0,1,2,3)
The following describes the device numbers:
* Device 0 - (primary master)
* Device 1 - (primary slave)
* Device 2 - (secondary master)
* Device 3 - (secondary slave)
2. Type the specific device number and press the [Enter] key.
After the device number has been properly selected, the Current Device Window will display
specific information on the selected hard drive (e.g., drive model, serial number, firmware
revision number and the selected hard drive's parameters).
CAUTION: Be careful when selecting which hard drive to low level format. Improper selection
will result in IMMEDIATE data loss on the selected hard drive. Typing a device number
that is not present in the system will be returned to the Main Menu.
3. From the Main Options Window, select "Low Level Format Current Device" and press the [Enter]
key. The following will appear in the red MESSAGE WINDOW:
Do you want to use LBA Mode (if not sure, press N) (Y/N)?
The program default for this is "N" (no), as some older System BIOS's do not support Logical
Block Addressing (LBA) Mode.
4. If the hard drive's capacity exceeds 504 MB, type "Y". If the hard drive's capacity does not
exceed 504 MB, type "N".
NOTE: Improper selection will result in the hard drive not formatting correctly.
5. Once the user has selected the method to low level format the device in step 4, the red
MESSAGE WINDOW then prompts with:
Warning!!! All data will be lost. Are you absolutely sure? (Y/N)
Type "N" or press any other key to return to the Main Menu. Choose this option if not
absolutely sure that the selection made in Step 4 was correct - OR - type "Y" to start the
low level format program.
During the execution of the low level format program:
* A digital readout will be displayed in the red MESSAGE WINDOW
* The Help Window will display "Press the [Esc] key to low level. . ."
WARNING: Typing "Y" will start the execution of the Low Level Format program and IMMEDIATELY
DESTROY THE DATA ON THE DEVICE.
To terminate the execution of the Low Level Format program press the [Esc] key. If the program
is stopped data on the hard drive is lost even if only the first sector of the drive is low
level formatted. This will return the program to the Main Menu.
The low level format will take between 4 and 30 minutes, depending on the capacity and the
speed of the hard drive, and the speed of the computer and it's interface.
Upon successful completion of the low level format of the hard drive, the red MESSAGE WINDOW
displays the following message:
* The Low Level format completed with no errors.
* Press a key to return to the main menu.
Note: If any error is encountered and MAXLLF.EXE returns an Error Code, contact Maxtor Technical
Assistance at 1-800-2MAXTOR for further help.
6. Press the [Esc] key (or press any other key) to return to the Main Menu.
7. Select "EXIT" and press the [Enter] key close the low level format utility. This will return
the user to the operating system's command prompt.
8. If the format completes with No-Errors, partition and high level format using the operating
system.
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.