can't FORMAT an external Hard Drive in my PC

[gregrocker]

Can you run the PW Surface Test or wipe the disk with PW? If so and it passes/wipes, try creating a Logical partition to Check File System.

If not a last resort would be to determine the maker of the disk to run it's HD Diagnostic to determine its condition with certainty. Some like WD and Seagate will show a tab for each drive detected and allow diagnosing even a USB drive. Others will require the disk be installed internally, e.g. for an external into a laptop.

 

[jumanji]

Yep, check your drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic/repair utility.

If all the bad sectors have been mapped into the reserved sectors and still more bad sectors are created then the drive controller will make the drive read only so that you cannot write any more data into it only to find it corrupted. This is what has perhaps happened to your drive and it is irreversible.

Since you were able to retrieve all data, I rule out the possibility of a defective SATA to USB Interface card inside the enclosure .Nevertheless, you can take out the drive, plug it as an internal drive on a Desk Top and check it again with the diagnostic/repair utility. That will be the last thing you can do before closing down this thread.

( If your drive is under warranty, do not break it open. Instead RMA it for a replacement.)