MontysEvilTwin, in case it helps :
I've just checked my saved Putty logs, and I can see that re-formatting the disk via the Humax's menu, without having done a secure erase, does not result in 4k alignment.
Before the secure erase, I guess its just reformating, and not re-partitioning as well? After the secure erase, it has to re-partition too?
(Although the Humax's dialogue does not mention re-partitioning).
Anyway, here's the excerpt from the Putty log :
Note the date is after my first post in this thread, and I'd already tried reformatting the disk (via the Humax's menu) before my first post
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~= PuTTY log 2014.02.10 20:59:23 =~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
Menu version 1.07
Enter system PIN: ****
/-------------------------\
| T E L N E T M E N U |
\-------------------------/
[ Humax HDR-Fox T2 (humax) 1.02.32/2.21 ]
1 - Restart into maintenance mode.
2 - Remove web interface password.
stat - Show what the box is currently doing.
x - Exit and close connection.
diag - Run a diagnostic.
cli - System command line (advanced users).
Please select option: cli
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Now starting a system command prompt. You can make this the default by
enabling 'Expert mode telnet server' on the web interface settings page.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Humax HDR-Fox T2 (humax) 1.02.32/2.21
To return to the menu, type: exit
humax# diag 4kalign
Running: 4kalign
--> This is an Advanced Format (AF) drive.
Model Number: ST1000VM002-1CT162
Logical Sector size: 512 bytes
Physical Sector size: 4096 bytes
Logical Sector-0 offset: 0 bytes
Nominal Media Rotation Rate: 5900
Disk /dev/sda: 1000 GB, 1000202273280 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953520065 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 2 2104514 1052226 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 2104515 1932539174 965209297 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 1932539175 1953520064 10482412 83 Linux
*WARNING* - partition /dev/sda1 is misaligned by 1024 bytes.
*WARNING* - partition /dev/sda2 is misaligned by 1536 bytes.
*WARNING* - partition /dev/sda3 is misaligned by 3584 bytes.
humax# exit
