Format of USB HDDs failing

I am experiencing a PC problem that I need help to solve.I bought a new external USB HDD, and found that when I tried to format it the disk light just came on, stayed on and didn't complete the format. No error messages and I have to force a reboot. One trial was a long full reformat which after 14 hours finished normally but when I looked at the HDD, it still wasn't formatted.Attempts to format via a cmd (admin) window failed the same way. I have also tried Diskpart, List Disk, Select Disk, Clean, List Volume, Select volume 5. All these returned the expected DOS/Diskpart message. Then I tried "Format fs=ntfs label="LACIE 6TB" Quick", and the usual drive light came on, and again stayed on until I forced a reboot. I returned the HDD to the retailer who seemingly had no troubles with format!I have now taken a different, empty, but formatted ntfs USB HDD, and format fails in the same way. However when I take this disk to a different PC it formats as expected. For both laptops I use a USB3 port in both PCs to rule out any potential external hub issue. USB HDDs, once formatted, work normally eg for copying files etc. Both PCs are Win 10 V 1903The problem comes back to the original I7 laptop. What can you recommend to try next?

Regards,
Doug

Hi doug4901,

Uninstall device driver for the external HDD from Device Manager --> Disk drives.

Thanks for the suggestion, .. I hadn't tried that.

I deleted the driver and then reconnected a USB external HDD, the PC loaded a new driver, but alas, I still can't format an external HDD

Regards
Doug

Test the speed of external HDD by copying large file to it or use CrystalDiskMark utility.

I tried 3 different USB3 HDD and the read and write speeds are OK.

Read and write were both in the range 95 - 100MB/sec

Try formatting the external HDD from Safe Mode this will let us know if any software causing the slow format problem.

1) Open disk management > by default some columns are compressed > widen each Status and Volume > make sure the contents within the parenthesis are in full view and that none of the characters are cutoff > view disk 0 > widen this row as needed so that all of the characters are in full view > post an image into the thread
Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of

2) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
3) sfc /scannow
4) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
5) chkdsk /scan
6) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

7) After the above steps connect the external HD to a USB2 port > Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
diskpart
lis dis
lis vol
sel dis W
(change W to the applicable disk number)
det dis
lis par
cle
(When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread)

Hi, Replying to Freebooter and zbook,

1. Same problem with Safe Boot unfortunately. It's not a slow format issue, I can't format at all
2. Screenshot of Diskmanagement Can you see my attachment?
3. I went through the system checks (as per zBook), and then a DOS box (admin status) and I got the same problem. No format. I tried a few times, twice my PC blue screened with the message; Stopcode SYSTEM SERVICE EXCEPTION

Guys, your help is appreciated, but pls pause further help because in the last 90mins of trying things over and over, out of about 12ish tries, just once the quick format worked . So something is intermittent. So I think I need to recheck everything again, and I fear it may be hardware. I'll get back to you good people when I have worked on it more.

Thanks again, and I hope to talk to you later.
Regards, Doug

Can you repair install Windows 10 you will not lose any of your personal files and installed programs.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

1) Run V2 and DM and upload results into this thread:
BSOD - Posting Instructions

2) Open file explorer> this PC > C: > in the right upper corner search for: C:\Windows\memory.dmp
> if the file size is < 1.5 GB then zip > post a separate share link into the thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive

3) Make sure that there is no over clocking while troubleshooting.

4) In the left lower corner search type: system or system control > open system control panel > on the left pane click advanced system settings

a) > on the advanced tab under startup and recovery > click settings > post an image of the startup and recovery window into the thread

b) > on the advanced tab under performance > click on settings > on the performance options window > click on the advanced tab > under virtual memory > click on change > post an image of the virtual memory window into the thread


5) For any BSOD:

a) run the V2 log collector to collect new log files

b) open file explorer> this PC > C: > in the right upper corner search for: C:\Windows\memory.dmp
> if the file size is < 1.5 GB then zip > post a separate share link into the thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive

6) When available post results from steps #2 to #6 of the earlier post