Can't format an HDD

[bigblocktowncar]

Win 7 64

I recently reinstalled my OS onto my SSD. I have three 500gb caviar black Western Digital drives that I use for storage. One of them was giving me trouble always checking for consistency right after the new OS installation. I unplugged it and updated all of the windows drivers etc, plugged it back in and it started working.

I was not satisfied with that so I decided to reformat it and reimage it. It was working until two days ago. I was able to look at the drive, browse the folders, open files, etc. It was sometimes slow, but it did work.

I decided to do a non-quick format and let it run while I was at work. When I came home, it was hardly showing any progress. Since it appeared that nothing had happened, I cancelled the format and tried to do a quick format. That did not work and just says unable to format or something like that.

I also tried running a format through the command prompt and I get "format failed".

chkdsk does not work with RAW file format.

I used the Western Digital data diagnostic utility and it passes the SMART check, but when I run the extended test it goes extremely slow saying something like 350 hours (basically two weeks of nonstop testing). I let it run over night to see if it was going slow but would eventually pick up speed but that did not happen.

I don't know if the drive is broken yet. Are there any other utilities that I can use on it? It still shows up, Windows does not try to check consistency on bootup, and it passes the SMART test in about 2 minutes.

 

[AddRAM]

Why and what are you reimaging to the hdd ?

Format it using diskpart or partition wizard.

http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

 

[jumanji]

Yes, try to format it with MiniTools Partition Wizard Home Edition.

If PW shows it as a "bad disk", there is no redemption. Discard the drive.

 

[bigblocktowncar]

I meant to just say restoring files. It is not a boot image. My boot OS is only 120gb before format, so I try to store non essential files like pictures and stuff elsewhere on other drives.

I will try those.

 

[bigblocktowncar]

So I started the mini partition wizard last night and told it to clear the partition the quick way, assign drive letter e: and format to NTFS. It has been running about 8 hours and it is only at 1% so far.

It appears to be "working" but why so slow? I am going to let it run. Is it possible that there is a trouble area on the drive that it will work through and then go faster?

 

[jumanji]

WD's diagnostic utility also was taking a long time and now PW too. I would think that its time for you to scrap the drive.

 

[p1tcho0]

Win 7 64

I recently reinstalled my OS onto my SSD. I have three 500gb caviar black Western Digital drives that I use for storage. One of them was giving me trouble always checking for consistency right after the new OS installation. I unplugged it and updated all of the windows drivers etc, plugged it back in and it started working.

I was not satisfied with that so I decided to reformat it and reimage it. It was working until two days ago. I was able to look at the drive, browse the folders, open files, etc. It was sometimes slow, but it did work.

I decided to do a non-quick format and let it run while I was at work. When I came home, it was hardly showing any progress. Since it appeared that nothing had happened, I cancelled the format and tried to do a quick format. That did not work and just says unable to format or something like that.

I also tried running a format through the command prompt and I get "format failed".

chkdsk does not work with RAW file format.

I used the Western Digital data diagnostic utility and it passes the SMART check, but when I run the extended test it goes extremely slow saying something like 350 hours (basically two weeks of nonstop testing). I let it run over night to see if it was going slow but would eventually pick up speed but that did not happen.

I don't know if the drive is broken yet. Are there any other utilities that I can use on it? It still shows up, Windows does not try to check consistency on bootup, and it passes the SMART test in about 2 minutes.

I would recommend for Raw partition Easy on track pro or specially R-Studio !

They are pro to recover the stuff in raw partition I already had this trouble on many hdd and recovered

the whole stuff !

If it persist, DiskWarrior ( For mac osx), in bootable menu is a great pro tool !