Must format disk, but works perfect in different PC

[FSBTech]

I have an Acer laptop that has recently started saying that I have to reformat the disk before it can be used. This happens with any external storage you plug in and I have tried it with multiple types. Even weirder, all the drives work perfectly fine on my desktop. I've scanned for viruses and updated Windows, but still nothing.

Any suggestions?

 

[jumanji]

Power cycle your Acer laptop and check whether it resolves your problem.

1. Shut-down the laptop.
2. Unplug any accessories.
3. Unplug the power adaptor.
4. If the laptop has a user-removable battery, remove the battery.
5. Press and hold the power button down for 30 seconds.
6. Install the battery if it was removed and reconnect the laptop power adaptor and accessories.
7. This completes the power cycle procedure

 

[FSBTech]

I cycled the power, but still have the same probleml

 

[jumanji]

The only other suggestion I could make is try to restore the system to a point before this event occurred.

Wait to see if others could suggest something.

 

[TVeblen]

Try this:
Go to Device Manager > double click to expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers > right click on the Host Controller > click Uninstall > click OK >
Repeat selecting each item to uninstall all the items listed under Universal Serial Bus Controllers.

Restart your computer and Windows 7 will reinstall all the USB controllers again automatically.

See if that works.

 

[FSBTech]

No dice on the reinstalling the drivers...and unfortunately, I do not have any previous restore points.

 

[jumanji]

Can you look into Windows Disk Management with only one external drive plugged in and if it shows up there, post a screenshot?

 

[Layback Bear]

This will help.
From Golden:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

 

[FSBTech]

Here's the screen cap. See how it says the format is RAW? On my other computers the format is Fat32 and works fine.

 

[fireberd]

I recently had a similar problem with USB 3.0 ports on my motherboard. If I plugged a known good external USB 3.0 hard drive in, Windows would tell me it needed formatted. I could plug the same drive into the USB 3.0 port on a different computer and all was well. I had some other problems with the motherboard, which was under warranty, so I sent it back. The returned board, which looks like a different board as there is no sign of any component replacement, works OK with the 3.0 drive and any USB 3.0 port.

 

[jumanji]

Yes indeed FSBTech, your pen drive shows as RAW, for what reason still eludes.

Fireberd's personal experience of course is a pointer to be noted. But I shall come to that later.

For now let us see whether removing the active flag in your pen drive matters in any way.

Install and run MiniTools Partition Wizard Home Edition 8.1.1 with this pen drive plugged in. Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online

Rightclick on the Pendrive in PW > Modify > Set inactive > Apply.

Once the action is finished, safely remove and plugin your pen drive again. Has it made any difference?

Reverting to Fireberd, we can try a fresh install of the OS on your laptop and check whether the problem is resolved. In case it does not happen, may be we have to blame a hardware fault. But I would wait to have opinions of other experts here on such a reinstall or any other suggestions to resolve the problem.

Do you have the Recovery Disks for your Acer Laptop?

 

[TVeblen]

The only other thing I could suggest, only if AFTER removing the Active flag the problem remains, is to use Partition Wizard to rebuild the MBR on the stick.

 

[jumanji]

OK, here is something that flashed in my mind.

Check whether automount is enabled. ( It is possible that somehow it got disabled)

Run diskpart as administrator. Type automount <enter>.

If it does not say automount is enabled, type auotomount enable <enter>

That should enable automount . Quit diskpart. Plugin your external drives and check whether those get a drive letter and you are able to access the drives.