[SOLVED] Help formatting a SATA hard drive

vdubguy2k · 11-06-2009, 03:14 PM

I tried searching for an answer a couple of times on this forum but kept getting errors with the search results...so asking instead!

I am currently running Windows Vista and have a second 320gig SATA drive in my computer. I want to completely format the second 320g drive so I can use it to install Windows 7. I went into the disk management section and found the second drive, right clicked and choose "format". It has been formatting for 2 and a half days straight and only at 17% complete.

I also tried to just plug that drive in as the main drive and install windows 7 from scratch and use the format option through that...but that took like 20 seconds, no way it formatted!

How the heck do I wipe this drive clean and format in a reasonable amount of time! I'd like to install Windows 7 this weekend and not have to wait a month for this drive to finish formatting!

Thanks for any help.

Tumbleweed36 · 11-06-2009, 03:30 PM

Go to the manufacturer's website and use their utility to prepare the drive by partitioning and formatting. Here is the link to all hard drive manufacturers:

Hard Drive Utilities

vdubguy2k · 11-06-2009, 03:32 PM

Thanks Tumbleweed36....I will give that a shot later tonight. Appreciate the quick response!

vdubguy2k · 11-07-2009, 11:55 AM

So I downloaded the utility for the Western Digital HD I have...loaded it up and started formatting. Left it going for about 4 hours and it said it still have 112 hours left to go.....is this really my only option for getting this drive formatted!? I don't want to be without my desktop for 5 days while this drive formats...any other options?

Thank you!

Dogg · 11-07-2009, 12:55 PM

What did you do exactly? It shouldn't take that long to perform a normal format. Unless of course you started a low level format.

vdubguy2k · 11-07-2009, 01:30 PM

Well I went back and ran the test diagnostics on the drive and it came back with "error status code 0225" which upon looking up on google means my drive is fried! So I guess it's off to Best Buy to get a new one. Thanks for the help on this guys!

Tumbleweed36 · 11-07-2009, 03:23 PM

Glad you found that out before wasting any other time. Hope the new one does the job for you and if you need help, let us know.

11-06-2009, 03:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
vdubguy2k Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista Home Premium	[SOLVED] Help formatting a SATA hard drive I tried searching for an answer a couple of times on this forum but kept getting errors with the search results...so asking instead! I am currently running Windows Vista and have a second 320gig SATA drive in my computer. I want to completely format the second 320g drive so I can use it to install Windows 7. I went into the disk management section and found the second drive, right clicked and choose "format". It has been formatting for 2 and a half days straight and only at 17% complete. I also tried to just plug that drive in as the main drive and install windows 7 from scratch and use the format option through that...but that took like 20 seconds, no way it formatted! How the heck do I wipe this drive clean and format in a reasonable amount of time! I'd like to install Windows 7 this weekend and not have to wait a month for this drive to finish formatting! Thanks for any help.

11-06-2009, 03:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,669 OS: XP Professional	Re: Help formatting a SATA hard drive Go to the manufacturer's website and use their utility to prepare the drive by partitioning and formatting. Here is the link to all hard drive manufacturers: Hard Drive Utilities __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

11-06-2009, 03:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
vdubguy2k Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista Home Premium	Re: Help formatting a SATA hard drive Thanks Tumbleweed36....I will give that a shot later tonight. Appreciate the quick response!

11-07-2009, 11:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
vdubguy2k Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista Home Premium	Re: Help formatting a SATA hard drive So I downloaded the utility for the Western Digital HD I have...loaded it up and started formatting. Left it going for about 4 hours and it said it still have 112 hours left to go.....is this really my only option for getting this drive formatted!? I don't want to be without my desktop for 5 days while this drive formats...any other options? Thank you!

11-07-2009, 12:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dogg Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 2,085 OS: XP sp3	Re: Help formatting a SATA hard drive What did you do exactly? It shouldn't take that long to perform a normal format. Unless of course you started a low level format. __________________ Google is your friend !

11-07-2009, 01:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
vdubguy2k Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista Home Premium	Re: Help formatting a SATA hard drive Well I went back and ran the test diagnostics on the drive and it came back with "error status code 0225" which upon looking up on google means my drive is fried! So I guess it's off to Best Buy to get a new one. Thanks for the help on this guys!

11-07-2009, 03:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,669 OS: XP Professional	Re: [SOLVED] Help formatting a SATA hard drive Glad you found that out before wasting any other time. Hope the new one does the job for you and if you need help, let us know. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.