Problem formatting 120GB partition

Need2BAGeek · 11-23-2005, 07:53 PM

I've never used a forum before, so I apologize in advance for anything I do wrong. My problem is that I built this PC throughout the past month or so, and I just installed Windows 2000 Pro earlier today. I'm using an IDE hard drive, Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L200P0I, and I made a small active partition (5GB) to get Windows running and install my video/sound drivers, etc.

I then created an extended partition and logical drive with the remaining 115GB or so, which I plan on using for games, games, and more games. The new partition shows up in MY COMPUTER, but the problem is that I can't format it. I've tried formatting it with NTFS through DISK MANAGEMENT several times and it freezes at 15% progress. I let it sit for almost two hours and it didn't make any progress. When I right-click the drive in MY COMPUTER and format it through there, it does the same thing. Makes a small amount of progress and freezes around 15% or so.

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I'm new to the whole "build your own PC" thing and I want to try everything possible before replacing this hard drive. Thanks!

**oldmn** · 11-23-2005, 08:22 PM

You might try downloading and running Maxblaster utilitys from Maxtor.
http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Ma...&downloadID=57
Also powermax.
http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Ma...&downloadID=22

**Bartender** · 11-30-2005, 06:36 AM

Good morning, Need2BaGeek -
You've done nothing with this machine except install the OS, right? No critically important information on the drive yet? I've got a suggestion. Start over, and this time don't do any partioning. Let Windows have the whole thing. Let's see if we can pin down the nature of the problem, whether it's some instruction that is confusing Windows or if the HDD is damaged (hopefully that won't be the case) or what. If the install goes fine you can always start over again, taking a close look at the instructions you type in for partitioning, or use some sort of partitioning software after you've successfully installed the OS (assuming of course you can afford one of them - or maybe there are free alternatives?). I've never partioned a drive (on purpose anyway) so I can't offer anything on that side of it, but I do have a question/suggestion...isn't 5GB kinda tight for a Windows install? Not 98 but I wonder about W2K or XP. I wonder what would happen if you gave it 10 Gigs to work with? This may not be necessary, I'm frankly not sure, but right now would be the time to just experiment, try it again, try something different, and build some confidence.

11-23-2005, 07:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Need2BAGeek Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Illinois, US Posts: 36 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 & Fedora 8	Problem formatting 120GB partition I've never used a forum before, so I apologize in advance for anything I do wrong. My problem is that I built this PC throughout the past month or so, and I just installed Windows 2000 Pro earlier today. I'm using an IDE hard drive, Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L200P0I, and I made a small active partition (5GB) to get Windows running and install my video/sound drivers, etc. I then created an extended partition and logical drive with the remaining 115GB or so, which I plan on using for games, games, and more games. The new partition shows up in MY COMPUTER, but the problem is that I can't format it. I've tried formatting it with NTFS through DISK MANAGEMENT several times and it freezes at 15% progress. I let it sit for almost two hours and it didn't make any progress. When I right-click the drive in MY COMPUTER and format it through there, it does the same thing. Makes a small amount of progress and freezes around 15% or so. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I'm new to the whole "build your own PC" thing and I want to try everything possible before replacing this hard drive. Thanks!

11-23-2005, 08:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
oldmn TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,150 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	Welcome to TSF You might try downloading and running Maxblaster utilitys from Maxtor. http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Ma...&downloadID=57 Also powermax. http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Ma...&downloadID=22 __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems.[/center] Last edited by oldmn; 11-23-2005 at 08:24 PM.

11-30-2005, 06:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Good morning, Need2BaGeek - You've done nothing with this machine except install the OS, right? No critically important information on the drive yet? I've got a suggestion. Start over, and this time don't do any partioning. Let Windows have the whole thing. Let's see if we can pin down the nature of the problem, whether it's some instruction that is confusing Windows or if the HDD is damaged (hopefully that won't be the case) or what. If the install goes fine you can always start over again, taking a close look at the instructions you type in for partitioning, or use some sort of partitioning software after you've successfully installed the OS (assuming of course you can afford one of them - or maybe there are free alternatives?). I've never partioned a drive (on purpose anyway) so I can't offer anything on that side of it, but I do have a question/suggestion...isn't 5GB kinda tight for a Windows install? Not 98 but I wonder about W2K or XP. I wonder what would happen if you gave it 10 Gigs to work with? This may not be necessary, I'm frankly not sure, but right now would be the time to just experiment, try it again, try something different, and build some confidence.