I can't format one of my hardrives

[rayan2142]

I wanted more extra space on my computer so i installed an old hard drive I had for it to accompany my SSD. I want to get rid of the old stuff on it so i tried formatting it only to receive this message:

"This drive is in use. Another program or process is using this drive. Do you want to format it anyway?"

i click yes and get this message:

"Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs that are using this drive, and make sure that no window is displaying the contents of the drive. Then try formatting again"

So i make sure that i am following the directions and it appears i'm doing nothing wrong.

So i try using Disk Management and it doesn't give me the option to format when i right click on the drive

So i try using DiskPart making sure the drive i want to format is selected and try the commands "format" and "clean" and for both i get this message:

"Format/Clean is not allowed on the current boot, system, pagefile,
crashdump or hibernation volume."

/: not sure what to do at this point. Send help please.

 

[phaelax]

Maybe something on the drive has an autorun script. Sounds like system files are running on it. Tried formatting from safe mode? Or reboot to console and format from there.

 

[evongugg]

Download GParted LiveCD and boot from it.
Then you can delete the partition and create a new one or format it if that's what you want.
Be careful to delete/format the right partition/disk!
Prior to booting GParted it's a good idea to disconnect any drives you don't want to format.

 

[The Paladin]

and you made sure your ssd if an M.2 drive that your new /old HDD is not connected to sata ports 0 or 1 ?

 

[SkyNetRising]

not sure what to do at this point. Send help please.

Can you show screenshot from Disk Management?

 

[Jwpanz]

Instead of using Disk Management, try using Kill Disk found here:http://www.killdisk.com/

Download it and run the program. You can set the program to "kill" a disk by wiping it of it's contents and leaving it in an unformatted state. I would suggest doing just one pass on it since you'll be using it again. After you've wiped it you can use disk management to format it from there.

 

[rayan2142]

not sure what to do at this point. Send help please.

Can you show screenshot from Disk Management?

 

[rayan2142]

Instead of using Disk Management, try using Kill Disk found here:http://www.killdisk.com/

Download it and run the program. You can set the program to "kill" a disk by wiping it of it's contents and leaving it in an unformatted state. I would suggest doing just one pass on it since you'll be using it again. After you've wiped it you can use disk management to format it from there.

I tried this but still didn't work and i got this:

 

[rayan2142]

Maybe something on the drive has an autorun script. Sounds like system files are running on it. Tried formatting from safe mode? Or reboot to console and format from there.

Tried both and still did not work

 

[rayan2142]

and you made sure your ssd if an M.2 drive that your new /old HDD is not connected to sata ports 0 or 1 ?

I don't think either are connected to ports 0 or 1

 

[SkyNetRising]

Tried both and still did not work

Page file is located on drive F: .
Move pagefile to some other drive. Only then you'll be able to format it.

https://www.online-tech-tips.com/co...uters-performace-configuring-the-paging-file/

 

[phaelax]

But that shouldn't prevent him from formatting if he's trying from outside of windows.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Outside of windows? Where did you get that idea?
Everything is being done in windows.

 

[phaelax]

Well, my very first suggestion was to do it outside of windows. And the next suggestion was gparted liveCD. Am I too assume he didn't bother either of these methods?