Hard Drive Problems

XxEPICGAMER47xX · Jul 24, 2014

My Hard drive recently got corrupted windows file and i had to wipe it clean. I reinstalled windows on my back up drive and it wont let me wipe my main hard drive. When i boot my computer and got to device manager its their and when I try to format it fails and disappears. Can this be fixed or do i need a new drive?
EDIT: Running Windows 7 Premium and Im running on disk 2 disk 1 is the broken one

i7Baby · Jul 24, 2014

Post your build and OS

How many drives have you got? Call them 1,2, 3 etc so we can follow you.

Paperdoc · Jul 24, 2014

"Won't let me wipe my main hard drive" - I am presuming you mean the OLD main drive that had your OS on it and got corrupted.

You don't explain how you are trying to "wipe" it. But MAYBE the problem is that Windows really will not Format a HDD that already has Windows installed on it. This is a caution move to make sure you don't cause yourself a disaster. Although it would be quite OK to do this in your situation, Windows does not know that.

I can suggest two ways to try:
1. This one is easier. Use Windows Disk Management to find that old drive - make SURE it is that one, and not the other that you already have a NEW Windows installed on - and Right-click on the Partition it contains. Choose to Delete the Partition, and any others it may have. Windows may do this, or may continue trying to protect you from your own "mistake". If it works and you get all Unallocated Space, then you can Initialize it or Create a New Simple Volume.

2. If Windows won't co-operate, you need a disk utility that will do a Zero Fill on your old drive. This is often included in a set of disk testing utilities, and some of those are available for free download from the maker of your old drive. Be VERY SURE which drive you're doing this to - it will completely destroy all your old data on that drive! When it's done, your old unit will be wiped really clean and empty. Then you can use Disk Management to Initialize etc.

XxEPICGAMER47xX · Jul 25, 2014

Paperdoc :

"Won't let me wipe my main hard drive" - I am presuming you mean the OLD main drive that had your OS on it and got corrupted.

You don't explain how you are trying to "wipe" it. But MAYBE the problem is that Windows really will not Format a HDD that already has Windows installed on it. This is a caution move to make sure you don't cause yourself a disaster. Although it would be quite OK to do this in your situation, Windows does not know that.

I can suggest two ways to try:
1. This one is easier. Use Windows Disk Management to find that old drive - make SURE it is that one, and not the other that you already have a NEW Windows installed on - and Right-click on the Partition it contains. Choose to Delete the Partition, and any others it may have. Windows may do this, or may continue trying to protect you from your own "mistake". If it works and you get all Unallocated Space, then you can Initialize it or Create a New Simple Volume.

2. If Windows won't co-operate, you need a disk utility that will do a Zero Fill on your old drive. This is often included in a set of disk testing utilities, and some of those are available for free download from the maker of your old drive. Be VERY SURE which drive you're doing this to - it will completely destroy all your old data on that drive! When it's done, your old unit will be wiped really clean and empty. Then you can use Disk Management to Initialize etc.

Ill give those a try I rebooted my laptop and when I tried to format it it says unable and then "disconnects"

i7Baby · Jul 25, 2014

So is your computer now a laptop? What make and model?

XxEPICGAMER47xX · Jul 25, 2014

i7Baby :

Dell, Alienware m17x R3

i7Baby · Jul 25, 2014

How many drives?

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