Can't format 2nd HDD. Shows its empty, yet says its in use.

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SlugJones

SlugJones

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Sep 23, 2014
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So, I deleted all the junk in my secondary 1TB HDD. Yet it shows 914GB free of 931Gb. I see nothing in the HDD. I cant figure out how to see hidden files in the drive either.

I can only get the format option to come up when I use file explorer where it lists all my drives. I click format, and it does its thing where it asks if it is NTFS, name of the volume label, etc. I choose quick format. And then click start.

Then I get the message "This drive is in use. Another program or process is using this drive. Do you want to format it anyway?" I click yes and it says "windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs that are using this drive.... etc"

Nothing I know of would be using the drive. I dont have the drive open to see the (empty) contents. I tried the disk management route and it wont let me even get the format option up. Its greyed out.


Any suggestions? Im using windows 8.1.

Edit-And I even tried it in safe mode with the same results.


EDIT- Disabled Recycle bin for the drive and still get the same message. :(

Edit 3- Figured out (and had overlooked) that the HDD i was trying to format had the page file on it for some reason. Removed the page file from the HDD and now im good to format!
 
Solution
casper1973
Try using diskpart instead.

- Open command prompt as admin
- Enter diskpart
- Enter list disk
- From the list displayed determine which disk is your external and note the disk #
DOUBLE CHECK THIS... THEN CHECK IT AGAIN. BE 100% SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT DISK #

- Enter select disk x (where x = the disk # of your external drive)
- Now enter the following commands.
attributes disk clear readonly
clean
convert mbr
create partition primary
select part 1
format fs=ntfs label=NameOfDrive quick
assign letter X (x = drive letter of choice)


Once again, be certain you have the correct disk # or you could cause serious problems.
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casper1973

casper1973

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Dec 30, 2012
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Try using diskpart instead.

- Open command prompt as admin
- Enter diskpart
- Enter list disk
- From the list displayed determine which disk is your external and note the disk #
DOUBLE CHECK THIS... THEN CHECK IT AGAIN. BE 100% SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT DISK #

- Enter select disk x (where x = the disk # of your external drive)
- Now enter the following commands.
attributes disk clear readonly
clean
convert mbr
create partition primary
select part 1
format fs=ntfs label=NameOfDrive quick
assign letter X (x = drive letter of choice)


Once again, be certain you have the correct disk # or you could cause serious problems.
 
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Solution
SlugJones

SlugJones

Reputable
Sep 23, 2014
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4,530
Ok, Casper! I got the message when I typed "clean" that "clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current boot, system, pagefile, crashdump or hibernation volume" What would that mean?

Also, I just noticed that in disk managment, the E drive says its healthy and "page file". Why is the page file on the 2nd HDD when my SSD is my "system, Active, Primary parition"?


Anywho, I removed the page file from the HDD (and just removed it all together since I have 16gb ram and never near using it all.) Now im good to go! Thanks for the help guys!
 
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