Format a 250 gb USB HD

GeneS · 08-22-2007, 06:05 AM

I have a Maxtor 250 gb usb/esata drive (in a cavalry case). I have used this drive as additional storage for my DVR through the esata connection. There was missing space reported on this drive by the DVR. I now am trying to re-format the drive for use on my PC through the USB port. I have partitioned using disk management, but when I try to format I get the message "formatting cannot be completed" after it sits for 30 minutes with 100% formatting displayed. I am using one partition. I have editted my registry to enable 48-bit LBA access.

Do I have a bad drive, or is there something else I should be doing?

GeneS · 08-28-2007, 08:17 AM

Let me provide more information and an update. Windows XP Home sp2 is my operating system. I downloaded MaxBlaster which reports many bad sectors when it tries to create the sole partition. I stop it after three hours and it has not completed the format. The bad sectors start at sector 1194 and go on for a while.

Is this drive toast? Or is there someway I can be able to format it?

dai · 08-28-2007, 01:06 PM

try clearing it with dban and then trying the format
http://dban.sourceforge.net/

**linderman** · 08-28-2007, 06:24 PM

another possibility is Hard drive regenerator >>>>> its not free

and around $60.00 which doesnt really make sense in this age of cheap drives

but the option is there

http://www.tomdownload.com/utilities...egenerator.htm

GeneS · 09-06-2007, 06:30 AM

When attempting a low-level format, I get numerous "format errors" at 524k intervals. It then hangs up and never completes. I am thinking toast.

dai · 09-06-2007, 08:18 AM

it looks that way
try clearing it with dban
http://dban.sourceforge.net/

GeneS · 12-25-2007, 03:34 PM

I now have a new hard drive from the supplier under warranty. I want to re-partition, but before I do so the manual says the following:

If the capacity of external hard drive is over 117GB, you should update your OS to support 48-bit LBA addressing.

How do I find out the status of my OS in this regard?

08-22-2007, 06:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
GeneS Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 32 OS: Win XP	Format a 250 gb USB HD I have a Maxtor 250 gb usb/esata drive (in a cavalry case). I have used this drive as additional storage for my DVR through the esata connection. There was missing space reported on this drive by the DVR. I now am trying to re-format the drive for use on my PC through the USB port. I have partitioned using disk management, but when I try to format I get the message "formatting cannot be completed" after it sits for 30 minutes with 100% formatting displayed. I am using one partition. I have editted my registry to enable 48-bit LBA access. Do I have a bad drive, or is there something else I should be doing?

08-28-2007, 08:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
GeneS Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 32 OS: Win XP	Re: Format a 250 gb USB HD Let me provide more information and an update. Windows XP Home sp2 is my operating system. I downloaded MaxBlaster which reports many bad sectors when it tries to create the sole partition. I stop it after three hours and it has not completed the format. The bad sectors start at sector 1194 and go on for a while. Is this drive toast? Or is there someway I can be able to format it?

08-28-2007, 01:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,771 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Format a 250 gb USB HD try clearing it with dban and then trying the format http://dban.sourceforge.net/ __________________

08-28-2007, 06:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 19,416 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Format a 250 gb USB HD another possibility is Hard drive regenerator >>>>> its not free and around $60.00 which doesnt really make sense in this age of cheap drives but the option is there http://www.tomdownload.com/utilities...egenerator.htm __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

09-06-2007, 06:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
GeneS Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 32 OS: Win XP	Re: Format a 250 gb USB HD When attempting a low-level format, I get numerous "format errors" at 524k intervals. It then hangs up and never completes. I am thinking toast.

09-06-2007, 08:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,771 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Format a 250 gb USB HD it looks that way try clearing it with dban http://dban.sourceforge.net/ __________________

12-25-2007, 03:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
GeneS Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 32 OS: Win XP	Re: Format a 250 gb USB HD I now have a new hard drive from the supplier under warranty. I want to re-partition, but before I do so the manual says the following: If the capacity of external hard drive is over 117GB, you should update your OS to support 48-bit LBA addressing. How do I find out the status of my OS in this regard?