Cannot format HDD

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim Cladingboel
  • Start date Start date
J

Jim Cladingboel

My slave 40GD WD HDD is empty apart from a zero byte
System Volume Info file and an 85 byte Recycler file.
WinXP/SP3 IE7/OE6 says disk cannot be formatted.
a Hard Scrubber and an Eraser program had no effect.
Any ideas, please,

Jim.
 
What happens when you try it from the Disk Management tool? To get to
the Disk Management tool enter diskmgmt.msc in the start menu run box.

John
 
Is the disk good? Forget CHKDSK, and download a CD (or floppy) image from
Western Digital, which contains disk testing tools. Create a bootbale CD
(or floppy) and test the disk.

If there is no data oin the hard drive, consider removing all partition and
creating new ones. Use WD's tools, not XP's.
 
Use "Disk Management" to reformat the
drive. You may get a warning that it's in use
but you will be given the option to go ahead
and format.

Once the format has completed then try Eraser.
 
Hi Jim,

If under warranty, replace the Hard Drive. If not under warranty, buy a
new Hard Drive and destroy the old Hard Drive. If it can't be formatted by
Windows, there is an Electronic Failure on the Hard Drive itself.

I just replaced the Hard Drive under Warranty for this very reason.
 
John John (MVP) said:
What happens when you try it from the Disk Management tool? To get to the
Disk Management tool enter diskmgmt.msc in the start menu run box.

John
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, diskmgmt.msc hung up the PC without
formatting and the HDD is out of warranty.
I tried the WD Diagnostic program, which reported the
drive as fine. However, when I tried to format and then
later tried just to delete the partition, the PC hung up.
Guess I shall have to replace it.
Many thanks to all for your help,

Jim.
 
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