Solved Can I reformat a GoFlex disk after being used as a pvr extender?

[Rockydog1947]

I have been using a Seagate GoFlex 1.5TB drive as an extender to my Satellite PVR. Would I be able to reformat that to use with my PC.

Thanks, Ken

 

[jumanji]

What is the current file format in the Goflex drive?

 

[Rockydog1947]

Thanks for the reply Jumanji. In an effort to answer your question I came across this ---

• Once connected, the 9242 will format the drive if it has never been used with the PVR before. This formatting is not compatible with PCs.
• If the hard drive is subsequently connected to a PC, the built-in software will instruct the PC to automatically reformat the drive

I will transfer the drive to my pc and see if it happens as they say it will.

 

[jumanji]

Good. Please go ahead and let us know. Things couldn't have been much simpler.

Assuming that the file format could be ext3 or ext4, I formatted my Lexar 4GB pendrive to ext4 with Partition Wizard Bootable CD, run from my multiboot YUMI pendrive and then reformatted it back to NTFS using the same Partition Wizard.

So if you encounter any problems, you can try it. Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online

 

[Rockydog1947]

Well, the bios sees the drive, and windows device driver sees it but doesn't show up in computer disk listing. Will check out the Magic software. Should have known it wouldn't be a cake walk, lol.

Doesn't show in windows disk management either.

 

[Rockydog1947]

Mission accomplished! Downloaded Magic partition manager. Created boot disk with their boot iso and booted into the program. Removed partitions and formatted. Actually pretty easy when you get great help that is always available on this forum.

Thanks again Jumanji, Ken

 

[jumanji]

Glad that it helped. I am indeed happy. My trial effort didn't go waste.

Actually I did quite a bit of reading on the subject since I have no idea whatsoever on satellite receivers and PVRs and there were lengthy discussions on many forums on how to reformat the HDDs used in those PVRs using a complete wipe with programs like DBAN and active at killdisk. And then I thought there are powerful partition managers these days. Won't these do the job? Then a decison between AOMEI Partition Assistant and MiniTools Partition Wizard went in favour of MiniTolls that can deal with ext4 too. The trial just took ten minutes but was fruitful.