Can't format my new internal SSD

[simon11191]

Hi, just a heads up - it's my first time doing this, don't play around with my computer too much.

Trying to install my new SSD (Crucial BX200) as an additional internal drive. I got it all plugged in with the power cable and a new SATA 3 cable (tried 3 of them), the drive shows up in Disk Management, when I first loaded it up it asked me to initialise it, no problem, but every time I try to format it, it comes up with error "The format did not complete successfully". I've tried shrinking the volume as well but it doesn't let me do that, just coming up with the error "The request could not be performed because of an I/O error".

For the things I've tried: I've tried booting into a clean boot state and safe mode and then tried to format to no avail, I've tried going into the BIOS, the disk is recognised and enabled. I've checked device manager which says the device is working properly, I've downloaded Crucials Storage Executive to try and update the firmware (the SSD is recognised but the make and model isn't, so it won't let me), and as mentioned earlier i've tried a few different SATA cables to check it wasn't an issue with the cable.

If it helps the motherboard is a GIGABYTE GA-Z87M-HD3 (according to the instructions, the computer was prebuilt for me about 3 years back), and it already came with a 120GB Samsung SSD which works just fine (just needed a bit more space). In Disk Management the drive is recognised, and I've managed to assign a drive letter to it, it says:

"
(F
223.57 GB RAW
Healthy (Primary Partition)
"

Thanks.

 

[thejackal85]

This is either a firmware problem (as you mentioned) or the drive has internal issues. That's the thing about SSD's, they're extremely fast, they're also very sensitive.

If you try accessing the drive in Windows Explorer, does it let you? When you said you tried three SATA cables, did you also try different ports?

 

[simon11191]

Hi, I can see the drive in windows explorer after having initialised it but can't access it or do anything with it.

I have tried a few different ports, and all the ports on the motherboard are sata 3 6gbps, but I noticed on the crucial storage executive that it recognises the drive at 1.5gbps?? Don't know if that means anything.

[strike]I can't see to find any way of upgrading the firmware, when using crucials storage executive it doesn't recognise the ssd as being a crucial product, and when manually downloading the iso I can't seem to get it to run with virtual clone drive.[/strike]

Managed to upgrade the firmware (completely misunderstood how to do it before), still the same issue :\

Thanks for responding

 

[thejackal85]

This is beginning to sound more and more like a physical drive problem. Does it come with a warranty? Can you take it back?

 

[simon11191]

Hi,

So I returned the drive and got a replacement - exact same issue! I haven't played around and tried anything else yet on this one, just plugged it in and tried to format it. Same error. Gonna try changing the SATA cables around, try the one from the DVD drive and update the firmware again, see if I can get it to do anything but I'm not expecting much :\

If anyone has a clue what might be causing the issue I would be hugely appreciative!

Thanks

EDIT: Just noticed that if I scan for hardware changes from Device Manager, or Rescan disks from Disk Management then the disk disappears from both device manager and disk management until I reboot the system :S

 

[thejackal85]

Hmmm, it might be some internal Windows issues then if it's pulling the same behavior on another drive. I would run the sfc /scannow command and if you have an operating system CD, I would run a repair as well.

 

[sarahmcm]

Hey Simon,

I have exactly same problem - but different brands and models - currently on second 240GB Premier SP550 SSD from Adata on Asus B85M-E mobo, with existing 120GB Samsung SSD which works just fine (just needed a bit more space). In Disk Management the new SSDs are recognised, but every time try to format get error "The format did not complete successfully". I've just submitted service ticket with Adata, and curious to know - did you ever resolve this?? (I will update the forum when I have a resolution)

cheers

Hi,

So I returned the drive and got a replacement - exact same issue! I haven't played around and tried anything else yet on this one, just plugged it in and tried to format it. Same error. Gonna try changing the SATA cables around, try the one from the DVD drive and update the firmware again, see if I can get it to do anything but I'm not expecting much :\

If anyone has a clue what might be causing the issue I would be hugely appreciative!

Thanks

EDIT: Just noticed that if I scan for hardware changes from Device Manager, or Rescan disks from Disk Management then the disk disappears from both device manager and disk management until I reboot the system :S