Windows cant format my SSD

[hayden_s]

First of all, my ssd, an 840 evo, has been very "buggy" the past couple months. I bough this ssd for games and my OS is on another ssd. Anyway, the SSD has been acting up by randomly not being recognized by my PC about every other time I turn it on. Sometimes it looks like the PC thinks that it's not even connected to the mobo. If anyone knows a solution to this, that would be nice, but I've now moved onto trying to format the drive as to get a fresh start . . .

the problem is that I get the error message "The format did not complete successfully". I've searched around the internet put only found information relevant to removable thumb drives . . . Anyway, all help is appreciated, thanks.

NOTE: the drive I'm trying to format seems to be stuck in RAW format . . .

DRIVES: https://gyazo.com/c1de0ac13e2bf1836a98dc7ac3cea246[/img]

ERROR MESSAGE: https://gyazo.com/94f2298ac1183e8710f7a79042e75afc[/img]

 

[rhysiam]

There's been some major firmware issues with 840 EVOs, usually related to performance rather than actually connectivity, but for sure it's worth updating the firmware.

How to: http://www.storagereview.com/how_to_upgrade_samsung_ssd_firmware

 

[hayden_s]

There's been some major firmware issues with 840 EVOs, usually related to performance rather than actually connectivity, but for sure it's worth updating the firmware.

How to: http://www.storagereview.com/how_to_upgrade_samsung_ssd_firmware

Thanks for the help, but it says that its firmware is up to date on Samsung magician.

 

[rhysiam]

Thanks for the help, but it says that its firmware is up to date on Samsung magician.

Well that's a shame, most likely you have a dying drive then.

For sure worth trying it in a different SATA port with a different sata and power cable, just in case that's the issue. Check SMART data. Run your benchmark in Samsung Magician to see if you get expected performance.

But it's not sounding good. If you have any important data on the drive, Step 1 is to back it up right away before any of the things above.

 

[hayden_s]

Thanks for the help, but it says that its firmware is up to date on Samsung magician.

Well that's a shame, most likely you have a dying drive then.

For sure worth trying it in a different SATA port with a different sata and power cable, just in case that's the issue. Check SMART data. Run your benchmark in Samsung Magician to see if you get expected performance.

But it's not sounding good. If you have any important data on the drive, Step 1 is to back it up right away before any of the things above.

I've tried the different SATA port with no results . . . and for the benchmark, I cant do it because the drive isn't formatted. And to address the dying issue . . . I've only had this drive since December of 2014, and I've only used roughly 20% of its storage (if that affects its use). From my basic understanding of hard drives and SSD's, a relatively new and high-end ssd like mine should be able to last MUCH longer. This makes me think that the solution to this might not be physical but software related . . .

 

[SkyNetRising]

Just delete old partition and create new.
And post screenshot from HDtune health section.

 

[Chicano]

Try formatting the SSD from a Partition Manager, from Safe Mode, or remotely from a Bootable repair disk (Hiren's, UBCD, etc) or Linux distro live disk/usb, or from a Windows installer disk/usb. The Hiren's Boot CD includes a Low Level Format tool so that should be a better option. You could also install Hard Disk Sentinel to see what it's scan results are on the SSD.

 

[rhysiam]

I've tried the different SATA port with no results . . . and for the benchmark, I cant do it because the drive isn't formatted. And to address the dying issue . . . I've only had this drive since December of 2014, and I've only used roughly 20% of its storage (if that affects its use). From my basic understanding of hard drives and SSD's, a relatively new and high-end ssd like mine should be able to last MUCH longer. This makes me think that the solution to this might not be physical but software related . . .

You've got some more suggestions there so if you've got time it's worth trying those.

In terms of drive failure though, unfortunately things can and do go wrong. You're unlucky, but it happens. I just recently had to RMA an 850 EVO because it just disappeared from the system. Plugged it in to two other machines and it was simply bricked. It was only 3 months old, I hadn't made a single change to it (no firmware/updates or anything) and it had been absolutely flawless up to that point... it happens.

Good news is that you're still under warranty - those EVOs have three years as I understand it. You've done enough diagnostic work IMHO to justify submitting a warranty claim and getting a replacement. Given that the issue you describe is sporadic and low level (the drive isn't even appearing in the BIOS from time to time if I understand you), I personally wouldn't trust the drive again even if I did manage to get it formatted and recognised. Getting a fresh file system on the drive wouldn't explain or address the issues with it disappearing at boot.

While you've got some good suggestions at further diagnosing the issue, if I were in your shoes I'd be approaching the retailer you purchased the drive from and requesting a replacement. As I said, if I've understood you correctly and the drive is randomly not visible in the BIOS at boot, I wouldn't be trusting that drive with my data anymore.

 

[hayden_s]

Just delete old partition and create new.
And post screenshot from HDtune health section.

I don't know how to delete an old partition and create a new one but here's the health:

https://gyazo.com/4b9a476bf9266e17fcd07b94ee81fe1d

 

[hayden_s]

Try formatting the SSD from a Partition Manager, from Safe Mode, or remotely from a Bootable repair disk (Hiren's, UBCD, etc) or Linux distro live disk/usb, or from a Windows installer disk/usb. The Hiren's Boot CD includes a Low Level Format tool so that should be a better option. You could also install Hard Disk Sentinel to see what it's scan results are on the SSD.

Thanks for the input, but I honestly don't recognize most of things you just said. maybe you could explain it in simpler terms?

 

[hayden_s]

I've tried the different SATA port with no results . . . and for the benchmark, I cant do it because the drive isn't formatted. And to address the dying issue . . . I've only had this drive since December of 2014, and I've only used roughly 20% of its storage (if that affects its use). From my basic understanding of hard drives and SSD's, a relatively new and high-end ssd like mine should be able to last MUCH longer. This makes me think that the solution to this might not be physical but software related . . .

You've got some more suggestions there so if you've got time it's worth trying those.

In terms of drive failure though, unfortunately things can and do go wrong. You're unlucky, but it happens. I just recently had to RMA an 850 EVO because it just disappeared from the system. Plugged it in to two other machines and it was simply bricked. It was only 3 months old, I hadn't made a single change to it (no firmware/updates or anything) and it had been absolutely flawless up to that point... it happens.

Good news is that you're still under warranty - those EVOs have three years as I understand it. You've done enough diagnostic work IMHO to justify submitting a warranty claim and getting a replacement. Given that the issue you describe is sporadic and low level (the drive isn't even appearing in the BIOS from time to time if I understand you), I personally wouldn't trust the drive again even if I did manage to get it formatted and recognised. Getting a fresh file system on the drive wouldn't explain or address the issues with it disappearing at boot.

While you've got some good suggestions at further diagnosing the issue, if I were in your shoes I'd be approaching the retailer you purchased the drive from and requesting a replacement. As I said, if I've understood you correctly and the drive is randomly not visible in the BIOS at boot, I wouldn't be trusting that drive with my data anymore.

Thanks for the help! Sorry to hear about your 850. I'll definitely try to RMA it I can't find a solution in the next day or two . . . I just don't like the whole RMA process, It's kind of a pain in the ass.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I don't know how to delete an old partition and create a new one but here's the health:
https://gyazo.com/4b9a476bf9266e17fcd07b94ee81fe1d

Use Disk Management, right-click on the partition and choose delete volume. Same way you create partition.

About the picture - there is very high CRC error count for that drive.
It's possible that drive cable is bad or system or/and drive temperature is too high.

 

[Chicano]

Thanks for the input, but I honestly don't recognize most of things you just said. maybe you could explain it in simpler terms?

I'll try to elaborate on every suggestion but you don't have to do them all, just get up to the point where something works. HD Tune's S.M.A.R.T. scan results say everything is OK.. but, I've had a few HDDs failures after S.M.A.R.T. scans showed all results as OK and Passed. Hard Disk Sentinel shows scan results for performance and health in percentages, graphic bars and rates them as Excellent, Good, Fair, Bad, Failing... Imminent Failure, etc.

So, first install Hard Disk Sentinel to know instead of guessing what the actual SSD condition is... and if it shows it in poor condition, skip every other suggestion as they will be a waste of time. If HD Sentinel shows the SSD in good condition, any of the format options below should work. The Windows Disk Manager is to basic and doesn't remotely compare to third party Partition Managers.

1. Try using a Partition Manager such as Minitool Partition Wizard... it does a better job and can someetimes format when Windows Disk Management can't

2. Reboot the computer and after the BIOS has posted, right after the beep, press and hold F8 and from the list select Safe Mode with Networking... once windows logs on in safe mode, try using Windows Disk Management.. some things that can't be done in normal mode can be done in safe mode.

3. You can build a Repair CD such as The Hiren's Boot CD or Ultimate Boot CD for Windows to name a couple. You only need to download the ISO and burn it to a CD to have a Bootable Live CD with many tools including disk Partitioning and formatting tools. The Low Level Format Tool wipes hard drives leaving them ready for a regular format. You can also download Linux distros in ISO file that you can burn to create a Live Linux disk, and all Linux distros include Gpated which is a Partition Manager you can use to format the SSD. Or you can use a Windows DVD installer or USB installer to format the SSD as if you were starting a Clean Windows installation, and just reboot the computer short of installing Windows.

http://www.hdsentinel.com/
http://hddguru.com/software/HDD-LLF-Low-Level-Format-Tool/
https://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html
http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd-on-usb-disk

 

[hayden_s]

I don't know how to delete an old partition and create a new one but here's the health:
https://gyazo.com/4b9a476bf9266e17fcd07b94ee81fe1d

Use Disk Management, right-click on the partition and choose delete volume. Same way you create partition.

About the picture - there is very high CRC error count for that drive.
It's possible that drive cable is bad or system or/and drive temperature is too high.

I could try switching the cables. Could you point me towards a program that will tell me the drive temp . . . and if the drive temp is to high, how would I go about making it cooler?

 

[Chicano]

Speccy shows the HDD/SSD temperature.
The only way you can cool a HDD/SSD is with front panel fans and if you have several drives, separate them a bit to leave space for airflow.

Get Hard Disk Sentinel installed so you know if all your efforts are worth while or just a waste of time.

IF HD Sentinel doesn't detect the SSD;
1. Try connecting it through USB adapter,
2. See if another computer detects it,
3. Change BIOS SATA controller settings to AHCI / IDE Mode,
4. Move it in the BIOS drives list to top of the list... Suggestion 3 should make it easier to detect.