[SOLVED] Drive not formatted error

DeeGore · 10-16-2009, 12:31 AM

Hi Everybody,
I'm having trouble with my maxtor one touch 4. I recently formatted it, and now every time I reboot my laptop I get the drive not formatted error. All I have to do is unplug the usb cable for a minute and then it seems ok. I have run testdisk, but still have the problem.

Dogg · 10-16-2009, 09:30 AM

Try using Safely Remove Hardware to disconnect the HDD. Next you time you reboot the HDD should be recognized and assigned a drive letter.

DeeGore · 10-24-2009, 09:24 PM

I use safely remove hardware every time. Every time I reboot the computer the volume name changes to new volume and the wrong drive size is shown. I think I screwed it up by trying to install windows on it.

DeeGore · 10-25-2009, 06:44 PM

I formatted again with device manager and changed the drive letter. I reboot and the drive letter stays the same but the name changes to local disk. Windows says the data is corrupt and shows total size much less than it should. I reinstalled windows but that didn't help. I formated NTFS and chose primary partition. All I have to do is unplug the usb cable every time I reboot but I don't want to put all my data back on the drive until I know I don't have to format again. Could it be a boot flag on the drive? I'm a noob so any ideas are appreciated.

Dogg · 10-29-2009, 12:29 PM

Test the drive on another PC. I'd suspect a drive issue or possibly an USB issue. Is the HDD self powered or does it get power from the USB cable?

DeeGore · 10-29-2009, 05:13 PM

Today when I rebooted xp automatically ran something that said it was fixing file structure on removable hard drive. Now everything seems to be back to normal. No idea why it took ten reboots to do it but I'm glad it's working. Thanks for the help.

DeeGore · 10-29-2009, 06:05 PM

I guess I still have a problem. I just plugged my drive into another laptop running vista and it says E:\ is not accessable access is denied. It changed the drive letter but the volume name was the same. I safley remove usb mass storage e:, unplugged the usb cable, and pluged it back in. When it showed back up it was labled new volume e: and said the data was corrupt. Should I try formatting again in vista?

DeeGore · 10-29-2009, 06:25 PM

I forgot to answer your question. The drive is self powered. It is still working fine on my xp computer. Thanx

**raptor_pa** · 10-29-2009, 08:14 PM

If the drive is formatted NTFS, then the security settings created on one PC will cause it not to be accessible on another without taking ownership. Part of NTFS security and normal behavior.

DeeGore · 10-29-2009, 09:18 PM

Oh ok, all is well then. I think i will format in fat to make it easier to move files around. Thank you very much.

**raptor_pa** · 10-29-2009, 09:23 PM

FAT32 in Windows only supports 32GB partitions, and limited to 4GB file sizes. Easier to just take ownership of the whole drive. You can get past teh 32GB partition limit by using 3rd party formatting tools, but the larger the partition, the more inefficient FAT32 becomes. No workaround though for the 4GB file limits. Formatting tool we use at http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/

DeeGore · 10-30-2009, 12:20 PM

It took me a few tries but I got ownership and set permissions for everyone. Found this short guide helpful. XP pro does not have to be in safe mode. Thank you for helping me get my drive working again.

10-16-2009, 12:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
DeeGore Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 OS: xp sp3	[SOLVED] Drive not formatted error Hi Everybody, I'm having trouble with my maxtor one touch 4. I recently formatted it, and now every time I reboot my laptop I get the drive not formatted error. All I have to do is unplug the usb cable for a minute and then it seems ok. I have run testdisk, but still have the problem.

10-16-2009, 09:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dogg Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 2,084 OS: XP sp3	Re: Drive not formatted error Try using Safely Remove Hardware to disconnect the HDD. Next you time you reboot the HDD should be recognized and assigned a drive letter. __________________ Google is your friend !

10-24-2009, 09:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
DeeGore Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 OS: xp sp3	Re: Drive not formatted error I use safely remove hardware every time. Every time I reboot the computer the volume name changes to new volume and the wrong drive size is shown. I think I screwed it up by trying to install windows on it.

10-25-2009, 06:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
DeeGore Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 OS: xp sp3	more info I formatted again with device manager and changed the drive letter. I reboot and the drive letter stays the same but the name changes to local disk. Windows says the data is corrupt and shows total size much less than it should. I reinstalled windows but that didn't help. I formated NTFS and chose primary partition. All I have to do is unplug the usb cable every time I reboot but I don't want to put all my data back on the drive until I know I don't have to format again. Could it be a boot flag on the drive? I'm a noob so any ideas are appreciated.

10-29-2009, 12:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dogg Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 2,084 OS: XP sp3	Re: Drive not formatted error Test the drive on another PC. I'd suspect a drive issue or possibly an USB issue. Is the HDD self powered or does it get power from the USB cable? __________________ Google is your friend !

10-29-2009, 05:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
DeeGore Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 OS: xp sp3	Re: Drive not formatted error Today when I rebooted xp automatically ran something that said it was fixing file structure on removable hard drive. Now everything seems to be back to normal. No idea why it took ten reboots to do it but I'm glad it's working. Thanks for the help.

10-29-2009, 06:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
DeeGore Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 OS: xp sp3	Re: Drive not formatted error I guess I still have a problem. I just plugged my drive into another laptop running vista and it says E:\ is not accessable access is denied. It changed the drive letter but the volume name was the same. I safley remove usb mass storage e:, unplugged the usb cable, and pluged it back in. When it showed back up it was labled new volume e: and said the data was corrupt. Should I try formatting again in vista?

10-29-2009, 06:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
DeeGore Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 OS: xp sp3	Re: Drive not formatted error I forgot to answer your question. The drive is self powered. It is still working fine on my xp computer. Thanx

10-29-2009, 08:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,893 OS: XP	Re: Drive not formatted error If the drive is formatted NTFS, then the security settings created on one PC will cause it not to be accessible on another without taking ownership. Part of NTFS security and normal behavior. __________________

10-29-2009, 09:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
DeeGore Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 OS: xp sp3	Thank you Oh ok, all is well then. I think i will format in fat to make it easier to move files around. Thank you very much.

10-29-2009, 09:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,893 OS: XP	Re: Drive not formatted error FAT32 in Windows only supports 32GB partitions, and limited to 4GB file sizes. Easier to just take ownership of the whole drive. You can get past teh 32GB partition limit by using 3rd party formatting tools, but the larger the partition, the more inefficient FAT32 becomes. No workaround though for the 4GB file limits. Formatting tool we use at http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/ __________________

10-30-2009, 12:20 PM	#12 (permalink)
DeeGore Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 OS: xp sp3	Re: Drive not formatted error It took me a few tries but I got ownership and set permissions for everyone. Found this short guide helpful. XP pro does not have to be in safe mode. Thank you for helping me get my drive working again.