External drive is in RAW format,tried to format into NTFS and get the error "The format did not complete successfully"
- Thread starter Symcirrus
- Start date
I am guessing that there is no hope of recovering any old data from this unit, since you have already tried to Format it. So let's assume you do NOT need to recover anything, If that is WRONG, then do NOT do what I suggest below! EVERYTHING I suggest will destroy any old data on that HDD!
"RAW Format" is a deceptive term. It really means that some data in the Partition Table or in the File System of a valid Partition is corrupted and Windows simply cannot understand it. It does not actually mean that the Partition has been Formatted incorrectly. I'll suggest two levels of things to try, simpler first.
1. This is to wipe out all the Partitions on the HDD and re-make the Partition Table and first Partition. Go into Windows' utility Disk Management and find that HDD in the LOWER RIGHT pane where you can "see" even HDD's that Windows cannot understand. For every Partition that the problem unit has, RIGHT-click on that and Delete the Partition. Do this until there are no Partitions left - just Unallocated Space. Now click on that Unallocated Space and choose to Create a New Simple Volume, as most recent Windows word it. Since you are not booting from this unit it does not need to be bootable, but pretty much all other options are set at acceptable default values. I suggest you let it do a Full Format (not Quick) so it will test the entire HDD surface. This will take HOURS to do, so be patient. If we're lucky, re-writing the Partition Table and then Formatting the new Partition (that is what New Simple Volume does) will replace any corrupted bits and fix this.
2. If that does not work, get a utility like DBAN and Zero Fill that HDD. This writes all zeroes to EVERYWHERE on the unit, and also forces the HDD to check itself internally (Windows does not know about this) and replace any bad sectors with good ones from a spare stash it has from the time of manufacturing. When this job is finished, Windows will have what looks like a perfectly new empty and error-free HDD. Then you can use Disk Management to do the Create a New Simple Volume thing.
Option 2 is more drastic and takes more time, but almost always will yield an error-free empty HDD. It CAN fail, though, if the HDD unit really has some severe problems, or has a LOT of Bad Sectors - too many to fix reliably. If that happens, your HDD it toast and there is no way to fix it. Just replace it.
"RAW Format" is a deceptive term. It really means that some data in the Partition Table or in the File System of a valid Partition is corrupted and Windows simply cannot understand it. It does not actually mean that the Partition has been Formatted incorrectly. I'll suggest two levels of things to try, simpler first.
1. This is to wipe out all the Partitions on the HDD and re-make the Partition Table and first Partition. Go into Windows' utility Disk Management and find that HDD in the LOWER RIGHT pane where you can "see" even HDD's that Windows cannot understand. For every Partition that the problem unit has, RIGHT-click on that and Delete the Partition. Do this until there are no Partitions left - just Unallocated Space. Now click on that Unallocated Space and choose to Create a New Simple Volume, as most recent Windows word it. Since you are not booting from this unit it does not need to be bootable, but pretty much all other options are set at acceptable default values. I suggest you let it do a Full Format (not Quick) so it will test the entire HDD surface. This will take HOURS to do, so be patient. If we're lucky, re-writing the Partition Table and then Formatting the new Partition (that is what New Simple Volume does) will replace any corrupted bits and fix this.
2. If that does not work, get a utility like DBAN and Zero Fill that HDD. This writes all zeroes to EVERYWHERE on the unit, and also forces the HDD to check itself internally (Windows does not know about this) and replace any bad sectors with good ones from a spare stash it has from the time of manufacturing. When this job is finished, Windows will have what looks like a perfectly new empty and error-free HDD. Then you can use Disk Management to do the Create a New Simple Volume thing.
Option 2 is more drastic and takes more time, but almost always will yield an error-free empty HDD. It CAN fail, though, if the HDD unit really has some severe problems, or has a LOT of Bad Sectors - too many to fix reliably. If that happens, your HDD it toast and there is no way to fix it. Just replace it.
TRENDING THREADS
-
-
-
-
News Intel CEO announces layoffs, restructuring, expanded return to office mandate- Started by Admin
- Replies: 22
-
News Intel's AI PC chips aren't selling; instead, last-gen Raptor Lake booms and creates a shortage
- Started by Admin
- Replies: 24
-
News Intel to announce a 20% workforce cut this week: Report
- Started by Admin
- Replies: 32
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram