Win 7 Cannot Format Ext HD

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

  1. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #11

    The only attribute that appears to me that may be an issue is the spin retry count. Seems rather close to the threshold value.

    Would've been interesting to see what the numbers were before the diagnostics were run. We should've seen some numbers change due to the bad sectors that it found. Did the test run to completion, or did it abort on its own?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 88
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #12

    Aborted on its own.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #13

    Try the WD test again to see if it gets any farther and to see if we can see the SMART attributes related to sector health change accordingly.

    Then read through that tutorial on using Diskpart. See if you can do the clean command on that drive (not 'clean all'). Ask if you've got questions before using it.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 88
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Ok. I'll have to do that tomorrow. I'll post the results then. Thanks for all your help!

    Well, I went ahead and tried Diskpart. It cleaned the disk but I still can't format it after creating a partition. I tried NTFS and exFAT.
    Last edited by hcour; 10 Sep 2012 at 00:28.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #15

    Quite welcome of course!

    Sounds like there's likely no controller/electronics problem with the disk (if the Diskpart commands completed successfully). The clean command clears out the first MB of the disk, so you can feel comfortable that that area is good. After creating the partition and then formatting it most of the writing will be done farther into the disk.

    I would go ahead and do the WD test tomorrow then grab and post screenshots. If the WD test has failed again, and no one responds to your post, then try using Diskpart to see if it'll do a "clean all" command without error.

    Do you get any messages after the following:

    hcour said:
    I tried NTFS and exFAT.
    Post them if you can.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 88
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #16

    Ok, it just seems to be something glitchy between this particular hd and the ext case (which works fine with other hd's). I disconnected one of my internal hd's, connected the Maxtor, and Windows formatted and read it fine. When I connected it back to the ext case, the tests won't run, a msg popped up saying I needed to format the drive, but it's still formatted and I can still read and write files on it.

    So I'm going to connect it back as an internal drive and then run the tests to make sure it's ok before I use it for a backup. Which test should I run, the quick or extended?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #17

    I'd run the extended, if you really want to know how reliable it can be. Keep note of those SMART numbers.

    Another good piece of software to use to monitor drive health over time (SMART doesn't do it on its own); it can keep track of those SMART numbers for you:

    CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World

    Download the portable version to avoid add on advertising software.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 88
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #18

    Will do. Thanks again.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #19

    You're welcome. Let us know how it goes.
      My Computer


 
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:12.
Find Us