Dear Mike ... I don't want to be responsible for any lose of data... As I mentioned I did this by accident but it worked! I used the Quick Format for sure and the seconds i cannot tell how many but a few ... like 10 - 15... I can't recall... sorry :-( But as you know even if you by accident format and erase the contents of a disk you can still get the data back - most of the times all of them - with a data recovery software... So you can feel free to act as mentioned and if nothing happens just use a recovery program to bring back the data of a format ... Of course with this you might even get things u erased 3 years ago ... but still you will get the data (most of the times) A question: Do you hear the disk spinning? or the light of the external case glowing in a 'good' color? meaning ... is the hard disk still 'alive'? CKougar P.S. I did what i said in the previous email at a LaCie External Hard Disk ... just in case that matters