I'm looking at the 2nd option (Clear Drive Then Remove Drive Method) in this guide - https://docs.unraid.net/legacy/FAQ/shrink-array/#the-clear-drive-then-remove-drive-method

 

I've already used unbalance to empty it out.

 

My question is this note -

Quote

One quick way to clean a drive is reformat it! To format an array drive, you stop the array and then on the Main page click on the link for the drive and change the file system type to something different than it currently is, then restart the array. You will then be presented with an option to format it. Formatting a drive removes all of its data, and the parity drive is updated accordingly, so the data cannot be easily recovered.

 

Does this mean if I format the drive, I can skip the lengthy clearing step (step and proceed straight to step 9? The note mentions that parity drive is 'updated accordingly' but im not sure what that means in this context. Is it an instant operation if formatting as opposed to clearing?

 

or since the drive currently has 0 usage, can i just remove it + reconfig the array and have the parity remain valid?  or does a non-empty disk not mean the same thing as all 0's and therefore parity must be rebuilt?

Edited March 3, 20242 yr by oliver

12 hours ago, oliver said:

Does this mean if I format the drive, I can skip the lengthy clearing step

No, format does not write zeros to the complete drive, that's why it's fast, but for parity to remain valid it's not enough.