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HDD toast?

ajdroidx

ajdroidx

Android Expert
I think my 2tb HDD is toast. I have been trying to format it, initialize it and so on and it refuses to format! It had linux on it, it was botched so I figured I would format the drive (after deleting the partitions) and use it to backup my MBP so I could prepare to install windows 8 on it.

Well, Deleted the partitions, of course it became unallocated space, so I allocated the space, gave the drive a new volume label, new drive letter, click format, about 8 minutes later it pops up an error saying the thing cannot be formatted the pops up a dialog saying I need to format the drive before I can use it?

Um. Okay.

I even pulled the dock out from my PC, plugged it into my MBP, tried to format it, tried to partition it and got an error.

Drive toast?

EDIT:
In disk management the drive is: V: Layout: simple, Type: Basic, Filesystem: RAW. Its healthy primary partition.

The Error is: windows was unable to complete the format

Simple as that.
 
Do you have a copy of Ubuntu laying around? I know from past experience that it's pretty good at determining if the drive is bad. I had it predict that my HDD in my laptop was about to die.

If you do, boot off of it in 'live' mode. It should detect the drive or give an error informing you of the drive's failure.
 
I got a copy I can burn to a disc. Right now the drive is in a USB dock (could be bad!?) and hooked up to my MBP trying to create a new partition. I suspect it will fail to create the partition, It has before.

Yup. Sure enough. I got an error stating:
Partition failed

Partition failed with the error:
Wiping Volume data to prevent future accidental probing failed
 
There are two main parts here: the HDD itself and the interface (in the HDD enclosure, the cable, the USB controller/hub(s) in the PC). If possible, I would eliminate the USB interface by installing the HDD internally.

Additionally, you can use PartEd, Ultimate Boot CD, or Hiren's Boot CD for running diags (the latter has some serious HDD diags).

Finally, you'll have to run the OEM's (i.e. WD, Seagate) diags if you want warranty work.
 
Go to the website of the drive manufacturer and download their official testing tool(s). If the tool(s) say that your drive has problems, then it has problems. If it passes with flying colors, you might want to invest some time into learning about partitions and filesystems, and what role they play. It's possible that you just skipped a step.

Also, with newer partition tables, not all computer operating systems and utilities are able to work with them. Make sure you have the latest tools.
 
RAW refers to an unrecognised, corrupt, or unformatted file system in a partition. Unallocated space or blank means there is no partition.
 
CHKDSK won't work since the drive won't format and the file system is unrecognised.

OP, did you run mfr. diags?
 
I wonder if its the dock. I just tried to install Fedora on a 500gb hard drive I had laying around. Linux found the drive, in the dock where I stuffed it. I went to install and got an error. Perhaps a junk USB cable?
 
I'm confused now.

Does the 2TB pass mfr. diags when plugged into the motherboard's controller?
Does the 500GB?

Eliminate the enclosure first.
 
Looks like it may be the dock. I have another Cables to go USB 2 to IDE or SATA drive adapter and look at that.... I am installing Fedora onto the 500gb drive. No issues (yet)
 
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