how to safely format 1Tb WD passport external hard disk?

Asung · Nov 15, 2014

hello ... i have a 1Tb WD passport external hard disk which became unaccessible after my laptop crashed .... however after much painstaking i was able to recover much of the important files using a 'data recovery tool'. now that it is done, i want to format my hard disk. But on my first attempt i was unable to do so... 'Formatting Fail'. My hard disk have never been partitioned.

In the Disk Management it reads-
Disk1- Basic- 931.48GB -Read Only
(I

931.48GB Healthy(Primary Partition)

It would be of Great relief if u will help me out . Thanks

mbarnes86 · Nov 15, 2014

Hi

Currently it shows as Read Only which it should not do

I suggest downloading WD Datalifeguard for windows to test the hard drive for physical damage

If it passes exit and try chkdsk then format

If that fails to repair disk use WD Datalife guard to write 00 to all sectors after which it will need partitioning & formatting

regards
Mike Barnes

Asung · Nov 15, 2014

Ok thank you so much. i'll follow your suggestion.

D_Know_WD · Nov 17, 2014

Hi there Asung,

If you get the same error message even after doing the things that mbarnes86 suggested, I would advise you to try something simple as just changing the USB cable. Trying to format on another computer will not hurt also.
You can also check this out: http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1325

Cheers,
D_Know_WD

Asung · Nov 17, 2014

D_Know_WD :

Hi D_Know_WD,

Thanks for your time and reply. I tried the WD Hard disk on another computer as u suggested and in the disk management it shows:
Disk1 Basic 931.48GB Online
(H) 931.48GB RAW (instead of Read Only, as shown previously in another PC)
Healthy (Primary Partition)

In the disk management when i Right-click on the Blue bar of my HDD it shows:
* Mark partition As Active
Change Drive Letter and paths
Format
Shrink volume
Delete Volume
...etc

I wanted to ask if i should 'Partition and Format the external hard drive with Disk Management', i.e Delete Volume and Create New Partition?
Or
Use Data Lifeguard Diagnostics for Windows, for Low Level Format or Write Zeros (Full Erase)?

Since i don't need any of the data from my hard disk, i would format in which ever way to be able to use the Hard disk again.

Thank you,
Asung

Asung · Nov 17, 2014

mbarnes86 :

Hi Mike Barnes,

Thanks for your time and reply. I tried the WD Hard disk on another computer as u suggested and in the disk management it shows:
Disk1 Basic 931.48GB Online
(H) 931.48GB RAW (instead of Read Only, as shown previously in another PC)
Healthy (Primary Partition)

In the disk management when i Right-click on the Blue bar of my HDD it shows:
* Mark partition As Active
Change Drive Letter and paths
Format
Shrink volume
Delete Volume
...etc

I wanted to ask if i should 'Partition and Format the external hard drive with Disk Management', i.e Delete Volume and Create New Partition?
Or
Use Data Lifeguard Diagnostics for Windows, for Low Level Format or Write Zeros (Full Erase)?

Since i don't need any of the data from my hard disk, i would format in which ever way to be able to use the Hard disk again.

Thank you,
Asung

mbarnes86 · Nov 17, 2014

Hi

I suggest running Wd data lifeguard for windows to test for physical damage before proceeding

If it passes as I said run chkdsk, if it repairs drive and drive letter re appears then
Try format but if that still fails try any product which can destroy boot sector of external drive , vital you ensure you do not destroy internal hard disk data

Wd data life guard can erase drive by right clicking on it

You can try cancelling after 1% or 2% zeroed

Once this has been done
Exit data life guard
Disconnect drive from usb
Re connect
See if it is auto detected and initialised
If not go to disk management to partition and format

Regards
Mike Barnes

D_Know_WD · Nov 18, 2014

Writing zeros may be a better option than just format in your case.
Choose either Quick or Full erase. Both most likely will do the job. The Full Erase option writes 0 to every sector while the Quick Erase writes 0 to only the first and last million sectors of the HDD.

Check these out:
http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/other/2779-701022.pdf
http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1211

Cheers,
D_Know_WD

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