How much memory is lost after formatting a disc?

Answer 1

When a disk is formatted or reformatted, everything previously on the disk is lost.

'Memory' in computer terms does not usually refer to the data that is on a separate disk. In the computer system there are various forms of 'memory'...

1. At the highest level there is the data stored in the internal registries.
2. Next there is a processor cache of memory.
3. Next there is 'Random Access Memory' (RAM). This is in the form of a special slot-in unit in the PC.
4. Then there is the hard-drive. This also serves as memory. It holds the programmes and related input and output data. The hard drive has its own 'disks'. If you format or re-format your hard drive you will lose everything! Don't do it! (Formatting a hard-drive disk should only be done by someone who knows what they are doing!)

Data can also be stored on extra drives, internal or external, and can take various forms, e.g. other hard-disks, 'flash drives', USB memory sticks, etc. These devices are used to store of various types of data such as pictures, music, text files, spreadsheets etc. Data stored in this way is a form of 'memory'.

Formatting or re-formatting one of these storage devices will destroy all the data that was previously on it. 'Formatting' wipes a disk clean of data, and divides its storage capacity into many sectors to enable future data to be readily stored and accessed in an organised way.