unable to initialize Disk - because of an I/O error

[T1NT1N]

Hi,

EDIT: USB to IDE sucks badly! If you have a choice get an external HDD enclosure better!

I am trying to connect a 250 GB IDE HDD to my laptop by using an "USB to IDE" adapter
the disk is recognized by seven, but when i go to "Disk management" and try to initialize it, i get this error message: "the request could not be performed because of an I/O device error."

the jumpers are sat so it becomes "master" .. when sat as "slave" seven doesn't even recognize it..
i could access the HDD normally when connected to PC, and windows xp sp3 is installed on it (NTFS)

here are SS:
- the error message:




- the drivers:




Your help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MadMaxData]

What's with all the dollar signs in the USB device model number? That can't be right. I would try uninstalling the USB device in Device Manager, immediately reboot, and allow Windows to reinstall the driver before I did anything else. That doesn't seem right to me.

Also, make sure your USB 2.0 controllers are enabled in the BIOS.

 

[DocBrown]

Welcome T1NT1N,

What are you using to power the IDE HD with a USB adapter ?

Could be not enough power to the HD ?

 

[MadMaxData]

Hi Doc, I'm thinking the USB to IDE adapter must be working if it's listing the HDD in Disk Management, wouldn't you think?

It sounds like a USB interface driver problem to me. Did you see the model name for the USB controller? Strange indeed.

*EDIT*
Okay, that's the actual HDD model, not the controller. This has to to be a device driver issue I'm thinking.

 

[DocBrown]

Hi Doc, I'm thinking the USB to IDE adapter must be working if it's listing the HDD in Disk Management, wouldn't you think?

It sounds like a USB interface driver problem to me. Did you see the model name for the USB controller? Strange indeed.

Good point, Max !

What is the make & model of laptop you are connecting it to ? Have you tried different USB ports? Any USB errors in Device Manager ? USB 1.1 or 2.0 ?

 

[MadMaxData]

On the other hand, I can't tell you how many times I've seen a HDD listed in the BIOS with the wrong model number, because the IDE cable was either bad, or wasn't plugged in all the way. This could simply be a case of needing to re-seat the IDE portion of the adapter into the HDD.

I would try wiggling that adapter around in the HDD. I've fixed those errors many times by simply doing that.

 

[CommonTater]

On the other hand, I can't tell you how many times I've seen a HDD listed in the BIOS with the wrong model number, because the IDE cable was either bad, or wasn't plugged in all the way. This could simply be a case of needing to re-seat the IDE portion of the adapter into the HDD.

Ummm... take a close look at the original images... not the colors of the partitions behind the error dialogs? The disk in question is neither partitioned nor formatted...

 

[MadMaxData]

Ummm... take a close look at the original images... not the colors of the partitions behind the error dialogs? The disk in question is neither partitioned nor formatted...

Correct, the OP is trying to initialize the disk, Bro. You can't format a drive with Windows until you initialize it. Look at the first image.

 

[CommonTater]

Ummm... take a close look at the original images... not the colors of the partitions behind the error dialogs? The disk in question is neither partitioned nor formatted...

Correct, the OP is trying to initialize the disk, Bro. You can't format a drive with Windows until you initialize it.

I just got a new usb drive the other day... plugged it in... black partion color... right click on the open area for the disk ... format and away it went. In fact, I don't even see "Initialize" anywhere on the menus... Hmmmmm... My system just keeps getting stranger and stranger....

 

[DocBrown]

Hi,
I am trying to connect a 250 GB IDE HDD to my laptop by using an "USB to IDE" adapter
the disk is recognized by seven, but when i go to "Disk management" and try to initialize it, i get this error message: "the request could not be performed because of an I/O device error."

the jumpers are sat so it becomes "master" .. when sat as "slave" seven doesn't even recognize it..
i could access the HDD normally when connected to PC, and windows xp sp3 is installed on it (NTFS)

here are SS:
- the error message:




- the drivers:




Your help would be greatly appreciated!

Are you saying win XP is installed on the 250GB IDE HD arealy with NTFS format ?

 

[MadMaxData]

I just got a new usb drive the other day... plugged it in... black partion color... right click on the open area for the disk ... format and away it went. In fact, I don't even see "Initialize" anywhere on the menus... Hmmmmm... My system just keeps getting stranger and stranger....

Windows still had to initialize it first, unless you already had a partition on it. That's just the way it works....always.

You won't see ininitialize unless you have a disk without a partition on it already hooked up.

 

[MadMaxData]

Are you saying win XP is installed on the 250GB IDE HD arealy with NTFS format ?

Good catch! I can only assume the HDD was zeroed out first, or it wouldn't need to be initialized. If it wasn't, then we are looking at a whole new ball game.

 

[T1NT1N]

hi and sorry about the delay, and thank you so much for your help

I would try uninstalling the USB device in Device Manager, immediately reboot, and allow Windows to reinstall the driver before I did anything else.

i just tried that, windows installed the same drivers

What are you using to power the IDE HD with a USB adapter ? Could be not enough power to the HD ?

the one provided with the adapter:

Okay, that's the actual HDD model, not the controller. This has to to be a device driver issue I'm thinking.

here is the HDD model if u like to:

Ummm... take a close look at the original images... not the colors of the partitions behind the error dialogs? The disk in question is neither partitioned nor formatted...

when i right click as u said, i ve only proprieties and Help

Are you saying win XP is installed on the 250GB IDE HD arealy with NTFS format ?

yes win xp is installed on it, not really sure about the file system, (certainly not FAT or FAT32)

 

[DocBrown]

That looks similar to my power adapter, so that looks good.

Do you need the win XP stuf on the 250gb HD ?

Or would you like to clean it & start with an empty drive ?

 

[T1NT1N]

What is the make & model of laptop you are connecting it to ? Have you tried different USB ports? Any USB errors in Device Manager ? USB 1.1 or 2.0 ?

ACER aspire 5735z
yes i tried different USB ports, and no USB errors in device manager
i suppose USB 2.0, how to check on that please?

 

[MadMaxData]

yes win xp is installed on it, not really sure about the file system, (certainly not FAT or FAT32)

It has to be NTFS then. The odd thing is that you shouldn't have to initialize the disk if there's already a partition on it though. Try this once, just to test something. Try setting the 250GB HDD as the first boot device, and see if your machine will boot into XP.

We'll go from there.

 

[T1NT1N]

That looks similar to my power adapter, so that looks good.

Do you need the win XP stuf on the 250gb HD ?

Or would you like to clean it & start with an empty drive ?

i do have important files on it but if have to i wouldn't mind to clean it because i still need it to store some files and free space on my laptop
my problem is that i have no PC at where i am now, only my laptop and that HDD

It has to be NTFS then. The odd thing is that you shouldn't have to initialize the disk if there's already a partition on it though. Try this once, just to test something. Try setting the 250GB HDD as the first boot device, and see if your machine will boot into XP.

We'll go from there.

ok i will try that

 

[MadMaxData]

i do have important files on it...

That's why I suggested seeing if you could boot into XP. If you can, then you can move the files you want to save off that drive to your internal laptop drive. Then you can proceed to wipe the 250GB clean. I have software to wipe the drive clean if you need it too.

 

[T1NT1N]

couldn't boot from it:



been like one month since the last time i used it (home PC) .. i am starting to think it is damaged now

 

[DocBrown]

Do you have any friends with XP or Vista computers that you could connect to to see it the files are accessable ? & could be move & saved to anoter drive?