external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"

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  1. Posts : 5
    windows 7 64bit
       #1

    external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"


    ok so i got a Seagate® 500GB hard disk
    model: Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS


    Im on a laptop and connecting the drives with a Manhattan hi-speed usb 2.0 to sata/ide adapter with power supply

    I open disk management with either one of them plugged in, i can hear the disk is running and all, I see Disk1 appear on my disk manager screen... it says unknown and not initialized right on the left on the virtual disk manager
    and when I open this screen, it prompts me to initialize the disk

    It says:
    "You must initialize a disk before Logical Disk Manager can access it."
    I mark Disk1 and select Master Boot Record as partition style, and when I click OK, there's an error message saying "the device is not ready"

    it worked before, it is actually brand-new.

    The first time it was used I installed it and formatted on my laptop running windows 7 64bit, then I tried it on a Mac and it wasn't readable, so it was re-formatted (the guy who did it told me it should work on both mac and windows... ), still empty... now i have this problem, I don't know what I can do.

    I have the exact same problem with another seagate® barracuda but this one is 500GB 7200.11 ST3500620AS, this one isn't brand-new, it was on a desktop mac.

    pleasee someone help me, I hope I made myself clear, my english is not that good.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"-ss1.png   external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"-ss2.png  
    Last edited by Brink; 06 Aug 2010 at 00:37. Reason: removed bad links
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #2

    Hello erickegg69 Welcome to the Seven Forums!

    From the screens you have there note the screen that actually follows the first when adding a new drive. That will provide the option for selecting a drive letter.

    Before the first screen however look on the square section next to the main volume seen at the left side where it says "unknown". You first have to right click on that in order to turn the drive "online". Once that is done you can proceed to use the add new drive wizard and assign a drive letter.

    Upon closing the wizard up you can then open any explorer window or Computer to see a new drive icon with the assigned drive letter you selected since the external drive will then have been initialized correctly.

    For use on both Mac and Windows alike you would leave that drive as Fat32 but simply see the drive made active unless you no longer plan to use the drive on the other machine and strictly for Windows use. Once you reformatted the first older drive to NTFS it was no longer cross platform between the two OSs. This is why you had to reformat a second time back to Fat 32.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 5
    windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I'm sorry... when I right click on it the only options I get are Offline, which tells me the same "the device is not ready" msg, properties and uninstall.
    I believe it is already online, so where can i open the New Drive Wizard?
    thanks in advance
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #4

    When you right click on the center portion to the right the new volume wizard as it is called will appear. The screens here will show how that looks since one should be familiar already. These were from a guide I made up while the last shows how to mark a volume as active in case that is needed there as well.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"-diskpart6-drive-offline.jpg   external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"-diskpart6b-guid-partition-table-mbr.jpg   external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"-diskpart7-new-volume.jpg   external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"-diskpart8-new-volume-wizard.jpg   external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"-diskpart9-new-volume-wizard2.jpg  

    external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"-diskpart10-new-volume-drive-letter.jpg   external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"-diskpart11-new-volume-format-label.jpg   external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"-diskpart12-new-volume-click-finish.jpg   external HDD can't be initialized "the device is not ready"-mark-drive-active.jpg  
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 5
    windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    yeah the problem is that it doesn't initialize, it tells me device isn't ready and stays as is. i simply cant open the drive in My Computer, or format it from the disk manager screen, cause it stays as unknown and not initialized :S
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #6

    The two things at the Seagate support site to look over are for new installation and previously working which seems to apply.

    For new installation, External Hard Drive Troubleshooter for Windows 7 and Vista

    For previously working, External Hard Drive Troubleshooter for Windows 7 and Vista

    Those are for checking the drive's status in the Device Manager since you haven't been able to get anywhere in the DM as far as initializing the drive. If it was just bought and found defective I would simply say return for exchange or refund. But these will cover how it is seen in the device manager.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 5
    windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    thank you for that, i followed instructions i now have my disk online in the disk management screen... now what do i have to do to be able to store data on it... (It still doesn't appear on My Computer as a drive)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5
    windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    and one more question ^^ should I make this a dynamic disk, or leave it as MBR?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #9

    Once it was seen online you simply go back into the Disk Management tool there to right click on the volume in order to select a drive letter. You may possibly see the new volume wizard come up. That be seen mainly for "raw" unpartitioned drives but Windows prompt you on formatting it if you skip past that.

    Once a drive letter is set and you see a auto play popup showing it being searched by Windows with the option to view files you can look in Computer or Windows Explorer to see it present. The drive will have been initialized during right click to change drive letter or new volume wizard if seen.

    You wouldn't need it turned into a dynamic volume since you are not running a server OS there. Most desktops and laptops alike 99% simply see a basic volume to begin with. The wizard will be mbr by default where you would simply go onto the next screen. Since this is an external not internal being used for storage and not seeing an OS you would only need to see the few basic steps there.

    You'll be surprized how fast and easy it actually is once you have it set.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #10

    I have same problem with WD (Wester Digital) , 3Tb Essential.
      My Computer


 
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