Cannot format external hard drive - Geeks to Go Forums

Jump to content

Log in Register Register Malware removal guide How it works

Cannot format external hard drive

#1 DarkSchalie

  • Group: Member
  • Posts: 54
  • Joined: 29-December 10

Posted 20 May 2012 - 12:08 AM

Everytime I try format my external hard drive, it gives me "Windows was unable to complete the format". This isn't like a Free Agent external hard drive, it's a hard drive that I put in an enclosure, just an fyi. The only thing I could format was the recovery partition (this was my old hard drive), which was about 30 GB. Still unable to format the 280 GB partition. I seriously need it since I'm running out of room on my hard drive. Any help would be needed ^_^.

#2 phillpower2

  • Group: Technician
  • Posts: 9,127
  • Joined: 25-August 09

Posted 20 May 2012 - 02:27 AM

Hi DarkSchalie

Try wiping the HDD with DBAN first http://www.dban.org/
If it manages to wipe the drive before you using it do a Windows Full NTFS format first.
What brand of HDD is it?

#3 DarkSchalie

  • Group: Member
  • Posts: 54
  • Joined: 29-December 10

Posted 20 May 2012 - 09:31 AM

View Postphillpower2, on 20 May 2012 - 02:27 AM, said:

Hi DarkSchalie

Try wiping the HDD with DBAN first http://www.dban.org/
If it manages to wipe the drive before you using it do a Windows Full NTFS format first.
What brand of HDD is it?

Alright, I'll try this later, busy at the moment.

It's a Western Digital.

#4 phillpower2

  • Group: Technician
  • Posts: 9,127
  • Joined: 25-August 09

Posted 20 May 2012 - 09:47 AM

Ok we will look out for an update.
You could also try WD own formatting tool and I would suggest that you run a diagnostic on the drive before saving data to it, just a precautionary measure http://www.tacktech....fm?ttid=287#wdc

#5 DarkSchalie

  • Group: Member
  • Posts: 54
  • Joined: 29-December 10

Posted 20 May 2012 - 01:42 PM

View Postphillpower2, on 20 May 2012 - 09:47 AM, said:

Ok we will look out for an update.
You could also try WD own formatting tool and I would suggest that you run a diagnostic on the drive before saving data to it, just a precautionary measure http://www.tacktech....fm?ttid=287#wdc

Well I was able to format it, and it's usable now, but the diagnostic tool tells me that there is too much bad sectors. Looks like I'll have to run chkdsk?

#6 phillpower2

  • Group: Technician
  • Posts: 9,127
  • Joined: 25-August 09

Posted 20 May 2012 - 01:59 PM

Thanks for the update, you could also try running the diagnostic tool a couple more times.

#7 DarkSchalie

  • Group: Member
  • Posts: 54
  • Joined: 29-December 10

Posted 20 May 2012 - 02:40 PM

View Postphillpower2, on 20 May 2012 - 01:59 PM, said:

Thanks for the update, you could also try running the diagnostic tool a couple more times.

Just finished running chkdsk and it fixed the bad stuff.

Running the diagnostic tool at the moment.

#8 phillpower2

  • Group: Technician
  • Posts: 9,127
  • Joined: 25-August 09

Posted 20 May 2012 - 02:45 PM

Positive news :thumbsup:

#9 DarkSchalie

  • Group: Member
  • Posts: 54
  • Joined: 29-December 10

Posted 20 May 2012 - 04:25 PM

View Postphillpower2, on 20 May 2012 - 02:45 PM, said:

Positive news :thumbsup:

It's working!

Thanks for the help.

Time to watch the solar eclipse :thumbsup:

#10 phillpower2

  • Group: Technician
  • Posts: 9,127
  • Joined: 25-August 09

Posted 20 May 2012 - 04:34 PM

You are welcome and I am glad you got it sorted :thumbsup:

Enjoy the eclipse :thumbsup:

Share this topic:


Page 1 of 1