Re: usb removable drive

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Art (noonehere_at_longone.net)
Date: 10/20/04 

Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 15:57:53 -0400

"Dale" <laurichd@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:jslbn0dt4n7pdehh8b4j96fkt7r13ek27p@4ax.com...
> Hi,
> I have a dell dimension 2400 running XP Home Ed. and I have a 2.5"
> 30GB drive which is install in an external USB storage system kit.
> When I attach to the USB port windows recognizes the drive but it will
> not initialize or format. I've tried to run fdisk but after I reboot
> as directed there are still no partitions on the drive. I've even
> tried to initialize under Computer Management but it still will not
> format.
>
> Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Dale

Dale:
To the best of my knowledge you cannot partition and format a USB external
hard drive using FDISK and associated Format commands. FDISK will not
recognize the USB external hard drive in order to partition the drive. I
must add that I've heard reports from some users that they were indeed
successful in using FDISK where a USB EHD was involved, but I've never been
able to verify this. At least I've never been successful in using the
FDISK/format commands from a Win9x/Me startup disk to partition and format a
USB EHD.

Since your USB EHD is unpartitioned, you will have to use XP's Disk
Management utility in Computer Management (Start | right-click My Computer |
Manage | Disk Management).

1. With the USB EHD connected and powered-up (if applicable), you should get
the "Found New Hardware" balloon message from XP. Disk Management will show
that drive as "Not Initialized" and "Unallocated".

2. Right-click on the "Not Initialized" area and select "Initialize Disk".
After doing so, the drive will be shown as "Online" instead of "Not
Initialized", but of course it's still "Unallocated".

3. Right-click on that "Unallocated" area and select "New Partition".Work
through the "New Partition Wizard" screens to create your partition(s) and
drive letter(s) and then format the partition(s). Since your hard drive is
only 30 GB, you will be given the option of formatting it in FAT32 in lieu
of NTFS should that be your preference.

I recognize that you've stated you have been unable to initialize and format
the drive using the Disk Management utility. But it is not clear to me why
this process failed in your case. If, after performing the above steps,
you're still not able to partition and format your USB EHD, please indicate
in detail whatever error messages you received or any other information that
you think may be helpful in diagnosing your problem.

I just noted that you're using a 2 1/2" HD in your USB external enclosure.
It occurred to me that I've run into a few recognition-type problems with
this type of drive when used as a USB external device, especially when there
was no auxiliary power going to the 2 1/2" drive (it relying on the
computer's power) as is usually the case with these drives when used in a
USB external enclosure specifically designed for 2 1/2" drives.

Another point - make sure you're connecting the device directly to a USB
port on your computer rather than through a USB hub. It's another area where
I've run into problems involving the system not recognizing the device. I
take it from your query that you are connecting directly to your computer's
USB port, but I thought I'd mention this for the benefit of others who might
be having a more-or-less similar problem.

Art

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