New External Drive not visible in "This PC"

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  1. Posts : 114
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #11

    I was wondering about "format" versus "quick format." I searched online and everyone and their grandmother has a different opinion on it. Heated arguments tend to break out over this topic. I didn't want to cause any unrest here. After 12 hours, the drive is 69% formatted.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,771
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       #12

    The main difference between Format and Quick Format is that Format (ie) Full Format, checks for bad sectors on the HDD. If it finds a bad sector, it will mark this as Bad and alert Windows to not save data to it. The reason it takes longer is because it has to go thru it sector by sector. If a drive is brand new, there is no reason to do a Full Format, as the drive should have all good sectors. But there is no harm in it. If a Full Format takes more then several hours, like overnight, then there are a lot of Bad Sectors. Make plans to replace the HDD.
    A Quick Format is used if you are preparing a brand new drive for the first time. Or you just want to erase the Headers of the files that were previously on the drive and overwrite the data with new files.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 114
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #13

    That's a brand-new external drive. Again, I read conflicting information online. Many sources say it's common that a new multi-TB drive can take up to 30 hours to be formatted.

    Obvious;y I do not like the idea of a brand-new drive having bad sectors. Is there any way I can find out specifically how many bad sectors are on this drive?
    Last edited by battlezone; 26 Jan 2018 at 02:06.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5,315
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
       #14

    When a hard disk is manufactured, there are areas on the platter that will have bad sectors. During the test phases of a hard disk at the factory, the platters are scanned and all the bad sectors are mapped out. When a user buys a brand new hard disk or computer, they will most likely be completely unaware that the drive contains bad sectors because they are 'mapped out' using the 'translator' algorithms.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 4,771
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       #15

    If this "Brand New" Drive took 30 hours to Format, then it may be a Refurbished drive disguised as a New Drive. I would return it and ask for a replacement under warranty.
    Then on your new drive, run Crystal Disk Info on it. If it shows any Yellow Caution flags, that drive too will be a Refurbished drive. You want a drive with no Bad Sectors.
    You can run CDI on this drive as well, send this report to the manufacturer for warranty replacement.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 983
    Windows 7/64 Professional
       #16

    Any time a 5 TB drive is completely scanned or a full format is done, it's going to take 2 1/2 forever's to complete.
    A lot depends on your system.

    Filling in your (My System Specs) would be helpful.

    Jack
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 114
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #17

    The external drive took 15 hours to format (not quick formatting). Something did not go right. It finally said "formatting 100%." Not sure if that means formatting was finished. Drive "healthy" was displayed. Yet the drive still did not show up on This PC. So I went back into Disk Management, and it asked me to add a drive letter, which I already had done before formatting, but apparently, it hadn't taken. So I gave it again a drive letter. Then it asked me to format yet again.

    So before I give this a second go, I'd like to know if I should leave a small partition with unallocated space. I think I read that on computer HDs, there is usually some unallocated memory kept to replace bad sectors. Is this done with external drives?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails New External Drive not visible in "This PC"-system.jpg  
    Last edited by battlezone; 25 Jan 2018 at 23:48.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5,315
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
       #18

    How did you assign the drive letter did you select "Change Drive Letters and Paths" option to assign a drive letter?

    Hard drive don't use unallocated storage space to 'mapped out' (replace) bad sectors. Bad sectors can often be corrected by using a spare sectors built into the drive. However, any information written to a bad sector is usually lost.

    If needed quick format the external drive and if this fails then if the drive is not out of warranty send it back for replacement.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 114
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #19

    If I am not mistaken, I assigned the drive letter within the Setup Wizard in Disk Management.

    I did a quick-formatting, which took about 12 minutes. I noticed that 1MB has automatically be left unallocated.

    Well, the drive has been formatted, I can see it in This PC and I can write to it and read off it. I still don't know why the first formatting attempt went wrong, but I'm good at messing things up somehow.

    One question remains for now: When I right-click on the external drive icon in This PC, there's no eject option. Is that because Quick Removal is checked in the device properties? I can "remove device" via the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the Taskbar used to work before I had the drive formatted, but now that the drive is formatted it doesn't work any longer. Is that normal?

    Thanks again, you all have been very helpful.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5,315
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
       #20

    Remove it from notification area (system tray) at Taskbar via the Safely Remove Hardware icon.

    You are very welcome!
      My Computer


 

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