help with USB HDD

[macgyver2]

Hi, I have not done much tech work with laptops and currently that is the only computer I have. Well my problem is I have a 320GB HDD that I can connect via a USB cable. I can't access the disk at all. I have tried using computer mang. and format but it fails every time.

I need a way via USB to format or otherwise make this disk usable to me. If I can get it working again I will end up getting a 2.5" case for it and have a nice large USB drive.

I currently am running windows 7 RC as my main OS. I could use something else if needed. Either way I need to find a way to make it usable without a desktop. If a desktop is my only way then I guess I need some friends LOL.

 

[Crunchy Doodle]

Using Computer Management is the correct way to partition and format a USB HDD. If that can't make it work, then the drive or the USB control adapter is bad. You may need to lay off the medication too.

Bye.

 

[macgyver2]

I know the adapter is good as I have another 250GB drive that works great on it. From what I know about the drive it was in a laptop that was BIOS locked and damaged, the drive was taken out before the password was recovered. I thought I could delete the partition/s or low level format it but all the software I can find don't work on USB it needs a desktop. I am just looking to do it via USB as thats all I have avail currently. Granted I can wait another month and will have a desktop again but like the need for new leaks on windows 7 Iwant to play now.

Not so heavy on the meds right now but will be again as I just found out I have a pinched nerve in my neck and 2 crushed nerves in my right shoulder. Right kidney now right shoulder too bad I can't replace parts like I do with computers LOL.

 

[DocBrown]

I bought a couple of these from eBay to play around with ext USB adapter Hard Drives

USB TO LAPTOP NOTEBOOK ADAPTER HDD IDE HARD DISK DRIVE

 

[macgyver2]

I bought a couple of these from eBay to play around with ext USB adapter Hard Drives

USB TO LAPTOP NOTEBOOK ADAPTER HDD IDE HARD DISK DRIVE

well that makes it connect via USB which I already do via a taken apart 2.5" enclosure. I found some adapters that might work to convert it to IDE if I can't find an updated desktop. So I know my local computer store has the hardware I just don't have the access to a desktop ATM.

 

[DocBrown]

Is it a IDE or sata hard drive?

 

[macgyver2]

its a Toshiba 320GB 2.5" SATA drive.
specs from toshiba
320GB capacity*
Rotational Speed of 5,400rpm
9.5mm High
12ms Average Seek Time
Serial ATA 2.6/ATA-8 Interface
Host Transfer Rate up to 1.5 Gb/s
8MB Buffer
300,000 MTTF Hours

 

[DocBrown]

Is it getting enough power from USB port or is there a seperate connector for power?

 

[macgyver2]

it powers up just fine, I can see it in windows 7 computer Manag/disk Managment and the only option avail for the drive is the properties I can't assign a letter format nothing.

 

[DocBrown]

Can you right click on it & get a menu to initalize?

 

[macgyver2]

the case I am using came with a 250GB drive from Toshiba same drive series just a size difference between the two. and I do all kind of strange stuff to the 250 like partitions, testing new encryption, testing bitlock from win 7 etc.

 

[johngalt]

I bet even money that if you attached the drive to XP or an older OS, or Linux you'll be able to format it.

Windows 7 supports the Trusted Platform management system, and I bet that it recognizes that the drive came from a BIOS locked machine - and is respecting the wishes of that machine.

 

[macgyver2]

don't remember seeing that, let me unhook my current drive and see if I can see that

 

[macgyver2]

I bet even money that if you attached the drive to XP or an older OS, or Linux you'll be able to format it.

Windows 7 supports the Trusted Platform management system, and I bet that it recognizes that the drive came from a BIOS locked machine - and is respecting the wishes of that machine.

that's a great idea, ah whish I could trade out the drive in this mini would make this so much easier, but I should be able to get this machine to boot into something other then 7. wonder if I accessed it in a virtual XP if I could do it. trying to figure out what I have and the best way to use it to run the machine in XP or linux.

 

[johngalt]

It might not in a virtual machine if the host OS is Win 7 - just make your install drive a bit smaller and install Linux on it or something...or even XP....

Even better - boot with a GParted CD and see if *it* can partition the drive....

 

[macgyver2]

I tried Gparted and not sure how long I have to wait for it to see the drives but my first run it was scanning for 5 mins and did nothing just sat there. Going to try again and let it sit longer and see if anything happens. I am using Gparted from a memory card in the built in reader and not sure if thats an issue or not. Anyway going to see what I can do since its not 2am now.

 

[johngalt]

Is the GParted being *booted* or are you trying to run it from inside Windows?

 

[macgyver2]

gprated was run from a SD card in the built in reader of the HP mini 1035. From all the software I have tested so far nothing can get the access needed over a USB connection. So until I get access to a desktop it looks like I am stuck.

 

[johngalt]

Get a GParted *bootable* ISO and use it instead. Burn it to a disc and boot off of it.

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php

 

[macgyver2]

sorry didn't add that I booted from it. what ever protection is on this drive is whats stopping me along with the limitations of the USB connection I have to work over. I also don't want to recover anything so deleting everything even writing a new mbr would be nice if I could access it at all with my limitations.

Basicly I the this list of hardware to work with"

HP Mini 1035NR running windows 7RC
60GB drive, 2 USB ports, 1 SD reader built in, 2 GB ram, the other specs don't really matter.
2GB SD card
250GB USB HDD (same series as the 320 I am workin on)
USB DVD burner
only have blank DVD's to work with
one 512MB USB flash drive.

OK the computer this drive came from was a toshiba laptop fairly new at least no more then 2 years old. the computer itself was damaged while the drive was removed. the man who had it didn't know what to do with the now spare parts so he gave me the drive, ram and anything else I could salvage which after testing was the CPU and I think the wfi card. the screen and mobo were both broken beyond repair. He was trying to add a 3G card into the laptop which didn't fit and he still forced the case back together and broke it. I am selling the other parts as I have no need for them but would love to make this drive usable again. My fear is that this drive won't be accessible again without the laptop it came from but of course no warrently with him breaking it so its upto me to experiment on it until I gain access and wipe it clean and give it to me wife or I wait until next month when my new desktop gets here and I can hook it directly to a mobo and clear the HDD lock and use then the wife gets it.

I posted in the chillout room that if anyone lived in Orlando they and they wanted to help me out with access to a desktop to contact me but so far only been offered suggestions and one offer if paid to fix it. As I made a living for 10+ years recovering evidence off computers to stop kiddy porn I have the software tools (that don't work over USB) and the hardware (currently working on a long term decrypt of aprox 800GB of photos,careful how you protect your files, this woman took all the family photos and converted them into jpeg and then for safty encrypted each single file needless to say its taking a very long time to recover them but she is willing to pay so ) so I don't have access to that until its finished. I would list the software I have tested but its been about 12 so far and all have the same issue about USB.

It would be nice from a tech point of view to be able to get beyond the protection even over a USB connection. My question is it a limit of the physical connection or the USB drivers? and how can I get around that short coming as this could be a useful tool in forensics with all the USB drives around these days instead of the adapters and having to open up the desktop all the time.