WD Passport HD - Failed to recognize, Disk Not Initilized error

StarCaptain · 21 Sep 2013

Experts,

I am similar issue as stated heredisk 1 is unknown, not initialized, unallocated

I have download MooTools and tried initializing the HDD but HD is not listing under MooTools too. Attached a screen shot of my Disk managment, under here it shows Disk1 as Not initialized.

Also attached a screen shot that shows from MooTools, disk z not recognizable

How can I trouble shoot this ? My HDD is western digital passport, also security/pwd is disabled though.

mjf · 22 Sep 2013

When you go into Disk Management a pop up window should appear asking if you want to initialize the disc. You would generally select the MBR option unless you specifically want a GPT disc. If this pop up doesn't occur then right click on the disc in Disk Management and it should give you the initialize disk option. If all this fails then you could try free Partition Wizard.

StarCaptain · 22 Sep 2013

yh, you are right popup was appeared but when I select MBR am getting below message
"The Request could not be performed because of an I/O device error". Not sure whats happening

mjf · 22 Sep 2013

You need to provide more details about disc 1?
Suggest you try:
See what Partition Wizard says about the disc.
Internal or external try changing the cable and ports.
Run the manufacturer's diagnostics.

StarCaptain · 22 Sep 2013

Thank you for taking time to reply me,

Disk1 is my western digital passport 1TB HD, I tried running Disk status tool which is a part of WD utilities. Its failed to detect.
I open lost partition recovery wizard from MooTools, it has detected the drive but shows as 0kb storage.

I suspect WD software is not allowing the drive to detectable and its not pwd protected too. earlier I have reformatted my PC then installed WD tools, then drive prompted me to enter password, at that time I have disabled password feature.

Now again I have reformatted my PC, since then It stopped to be detectable.

mjf · 22 Sep 2013

I have quite a number of My Book Essential USB3 ext HDDs and find the Windows sourced drivers work fine. However, you may want to look at
Where to find a driver for a WD product or the operating system (OS) fails to recognize a WD drive
and try the WD drivers.
Someone else may know of something quirky about WD Passports that prevents them from being formated in a conventional way.

An alternative is to attempt a format via the command line.
1) Open an elevated command prompt. Type cmd in the search programs and files box (lower left). When cmd.exe apperas, right click and run as administrator.
2) At the command prompt do the following:
>diskpart
>list disk
Now identify your Passport and the disk number (say n) - it probable should have the status of offline. Be careful you select the correct disk!!
>select disk n
>clean
>create partition primary
> select partition 1
> format fs=ntfs quick
> assign
>exit
Close command prompt and see if the Passport is visible in Windows explorer.

StarCaptain · 22 Sep 2013

Thanks much again, Will try looking in that forums and perform your steps. I will get back to you later in the evening (Singapore hours)

jumanji · 23 Sep 2013

Hi StarCaptain,

Try this first.

Try to format your WD drive with HP USB Disk Storage Format tool v2.2.3 HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool Free Download

(Remove all other external drives. Plugin only your Western Digital external drive. Right click on the .exe file and run as administrator. If the tool can see your drive, format it.)

mjf · 23 Sep 2013

Up to you OP but I suggest you give my suggestions a go before jumping into using the old HP tool.

jumanji · 23 Sep 2013

Absolutely no problems, Star Captain, go ahead with mjf's suggestions first.:)